Lions International has called on volunteers worldwide to join a Vision Week of Service from October 8 to 18, 2026. The initiative begins on World Sight Day, the organisation announced on October 1.

The global drive will bring Lions and Leos together with community partners for vision screenings, eyeglass recycling drives, eye health education and projects supporting people who are blind or visually impaired.

The need is large. The World Health Organization says more than 2.2 billion people live with near or distance vision impairment, and at least 1 billion of those cases could have been prevented or remain unaddressed.

In 2025-26, Lions and Leos led more than 1.3 million vision-related service initiatives in the United States alone. Their charitable arm awarded $8.67 million that helped 4.37 million people in 30 countries receive vision support. “When Lions provide a vision screening or collect eyeglasses, we open doors to learning and independence,” said international president Mark S. Lyon.