Vision 2020 is a global campaign for the elimination of preventable blindness. This Vision 2020 concentrates on the fight against or treatment of the main functional eye disorders: cataract, trachoma, onchocerciasis and childhood blindness, which is most often caused by vitamin A deficiency. Among the top priorities are the establishment and development of the necessary infrastructure for the prevention of blindness as well as the training of eye doctors and eye care workers and the use of appropriate technology for treatment and operation of eye diseases.

In spite of considerable progress by national blindness prevention programmes in many developing countries, the number of blind and visually impaired people throughout the world will continue to rise, if no further action is taken, mainly because of population growth and the increase in life expectancy. The most recent estimates of the WHO state figures of 50 million blind and 135 million visually impaired people. Approximately 75% of these people need not to be blind, since their blindness is either curable or could have been prevented. Owing to this alarming situation and the forecast that these figures will more than double over the next 15 years, a team of experts and relief organisations in partnership with the WHO have drawn up a joint plan of action. Dark & Light Blind Care is one of the partners in Vision 2020.