A key WHO recommendation in the World report on vision (2019) is to strengthen general awareness and engage and empower people and communities. There is a strong rationale to strengthen health promotion and education in the field of eye care given the majority of cases of vision impairment and blindness can be prevented through early detection and timely management. Poor eye health literacy can also limit adherence to medications and routine assessment among people with chronic eye conditions.

WHO also recognizes the vital role education campaigns play in the management of myopia and its associated complications, while also improving education of good eye care behaviours (e.g. the importance of regular eye examinations) and addressing common reasons for noncompliance to spectacle wear.

It is recommended that eye health promotion and education be delivered across all levels of care, with an increased focus on integrating simple and effective education and counselling at the community and primary care level. A significant number of opportunities exist for the integration of eye care education across other health programmes areas, such as occupational health, nutrition and immunization, tobacco cessation and sun protection initiatives. Regardless of the approach, strategies for health promotion, education and prevention in the field of eye care should not be conducted in isolation; rather they should be complementary to the existing clinical interventions, policies and awareness in countries.