London, UK – October 18, 2026 – Vision Science Academy successfully hosted the October edition of The Vision Science Talks, featuring Ayesha Siddiqui, Data Officer at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). The lecture, titled “The Psychological Dimensions of Community Eye Care: Why Mind, Motivation and Access Matter,” was held on Sunday, 18 October 2026, at 10:30 AM BST (3:00 PM IST).
Event Overview
The session explored how psychological factors shape the way communities seek, reach and use eye care services. It looked beyond service availability to the role of mind, motivation and access in determining whether people act on their eye health needs. Participants were encouraged to consider how perceptions, behaviours and barriers influence community-level outcomes, and how eye care programmes can be designed with these factors in mind.
The discussion also highlighted the value of data and interdisciplinary perspectives in understanding and addressing gaps in eye care access.
Figure: A Clip from the Interactive Q&A Session
Key Takeaways
- Access to eye care is shaped by psychological and motivational factors as well as by infrastructure and service availability.
- Understanding community perceptions and behaviours can help make eye care programmes more effective and inclusive.
- Reliable data helps identify where and why people are not reaching the eye care they need.
- Collaboration across eye care, public health, psychology and data disciplines strengthens community-level impact.
Kristi Sharma, Senior Manager, Advanced Education and Partnerships, and host of the event, expressed her gratitude by saying,
“This global session offered a valuable opportunity to explore the psychological and social factors that influence community eye care and access to eye health services. My sincere gratitude to Ms. Ayesha Siddiqui for sharing her expertise and perspectives, and to all our participants for their enthusiastic engagement and active participation.”
About The Vision Science Talks
The Vision Science Talks is an educational initiative of Vision Science Academy that provides students, clinicians, researchers, educators, and vision science professionals with opportunities to learn directly from experts across diverse areas of vision science. The series supports the Academy’s broader commitment to knowledge exchange, professional education, and interdisciplinary learning.
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