Sightsavers wins outstanding abstract award at World Ophthalmology Congress

A research paper presented by Sightsavers at the World Ophthalmology Congress in Barcelona has been selected as one of 50 outstanding abstracts from the event.

The congress, one of the most prestigious events for ophthalmologists and researchers, receives thousands of abstract submissions from academics and institutions. An abstract is a summary of a longer scientific paper and the Outstanding Abstract Award is awarded to researchers based on the scientific quality of their work and evaluated by a panel of reviewers.

The abstract was written by Sightsavers health economist Thomas Engels and research associate Guillaume Trotignon.

The paper, which investigates whether people from low-income areas in South Asia are willing to pay for spectacles, draws on Sightsavers’ extensive eye health research in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The original research was funded by Seeing is Believing (Standard Chartered Bank’s global community investment programme), Fred Hollows Foundation and Sightsavers, and can be used by policymakers and eye care programmes interested in reducing visual impairment among disadvantaged groups of people.

Thomas Engels said: “I am very pleased to receive this award from the academic and eye care community. Research is critical for our programmes – Sightsavers has recently been awarded Independent Research Organisation status by Research Councils UK, and the award represents further recognition of the quality of our research work.”

To read the abstract, visit the World Ophthalmology Congress. You can also find more information on the research conducted in Bangladesh.