Ophthalmology Calendar 2026: Awareness and Special Days
- Maria Bogoeva
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Ready for our yearly ophthalmology calendar 2026? We've done the research all over again, so eye doctors and the eyecare industry can stay updated about the important dates, special days and awareness initiatives in 2026. It's all classified month by month, so it's easy to follow and check what's coming.
Table of Contents:
January 2026 Ophthalmology Awareness
Glaucoma Awareness Month
World Braille Day
Glaucoma Awareness Month
Date: All month
Glaucoma Awareness Month aims to raise public awareness about glaucoma. That's when eye health organizations, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and patient advocacy groups focus on educating the public about the risk factors - age, family history, elevated intraocular pressure, ethnicity, and certain conditions. A central message of the campaign is the need for routine eye examinations. Early diagnosis is currently the most effective way to prevent or slow vision loss from glaucoma.
World Braille Day
Date: January 4, 2026
World Braille Day is marked every year on 4 January. The initiative raises awareness of the importance of Braille for blind and severely visually impaired people. The day celebrates Braille as a tool for reading, writing, education, independence and equal access to information. It highlights the need for inclusion and accessibility for people with vision loss.
February 2026 Awareness in Ophthalmology
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month
Low Vision Awareness Month
Rare Disease Day
AMD Awareness Month
Date: All month
February is recognized as Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month. The focus is on educating the public about AMD as a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. During the month, eye health professionals highlight early symptoms, risk factors and the importance of regular eye exams for early diagnosis.
RELATED: Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration
Low Vision Awareness Month
Date: All month
Low Vision Awareness Month is celebrated in the US and internationally in eye-care communities. The aim is to raise awareness that vision loss does not always mean total blindness. Also, how people with low vision can benefit from rehabilitation, assistive devices, and visual aids to keep their independence and quality of life.
Rare Disease Day
Date: 28 February 2026
28 February is Rare Disease Day, which is relevant to ophthalmology because many rare diseases have ocular manifestations or may affect vision. The day raises awareness about rare genetic and inherited eye conditions, the challenges of diagnosis, and how research and access to care can change the outcomes.
March 2026 Special Days in Ophthalmology
Save Your Vision Month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
World Glaucoma Week
World Optometry Day
Save Your Vision Month
Date: All month
March is Save Your Vision Month, focusing on vision loss prevention through regular eye exams, eye safety, and early detection of eye diseases. The awareness campaign focuses mainly on conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease.
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Date: All month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month is observed in March and focuses on protecting eyes in the workplace. The campaigns are targeting people who spend long hours on computers or in visually demanding environments. The initiative highlights how important proper screen ergonomics, adequate lighting, breaks, and eye safety at work are to prevent short-term discomfort and long-term vision problems.
World Glaucoma Week
Date: 8-14 March 2026
World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about glaucoma, emphasizing early diagnosis and treatment to prevent irreversible vision loss. Within the week, World Glaucoma Day is observed on 12 March, highlighting glaucoma as a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide.
World Optometry Day
Date: 23 March 2026
World Optometry Day, on 23 March, recognizes the role of optometrists and ophthalmologists in providing basic eye health services, vision correction and disease detection.
April 2026 Eyecare Highlights
Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
World Health Day
Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
Date: All month
Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month focuses on eye conditions that affect women more frequently or differently. Such conditions are dry eye disease, autoimmune-related eye conditions, and vision changes related to pregnancy, menopause, and aging. The month emphasizes the need for eye exams and early detection.
RELATED: Menopause Eye Problems
World Health Day
Date: April 7, 2026
World Health Day is observed annually on 7 April. It's led by the World Health Organization and focuses on global health priorities. For ophthalmology, World Health Day is an opportunity to highlight vision as a key part of overall health, the importance of access to eye care, preventable blindness, and the role of on-time diagnosis and treatment.
May 2026 Ophthalmology Calendar
Healthy Vision Month
World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week
Healthy Vision Month
Date: All month
The focus on Healthy Vision Month is on encouraging regular eye examinations. Campaigns highlight protecting vision at all ages, managing screen time and raising awareness about common eye problems and preventable vision loss.
World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week
Date: 10-16 May 2026
On the 2nd Sunday of May is World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, highlighting this rare childhood eye cancer. The aim is to increase awareness of early warning signs such as leukocoria (white pupil). Initiatives are supported by ophthalmologists, oncologists, pediatricians, and cancer prevention societies and foundations.
June 2026 Eye Health Initiatives
Cataract Awareness Month
Fireworks Eye Safety Month
National Eyewear Day
Nystagmus Awareness Day
Cataract Awareness Month
Date: All month
June is Cataract Awareness Month. The emphasis of the awareness campaigns is on recognizing cataract symptoms, understanding treatment options, and reassuring patients about the safety and effectiveness of cataract surgery.
Fireworks Eye Safety Month
Date: All month
Fireworks Eye Safety awareness happens right on time, in the weeks leading up to summer celebrations in the US. The focus is on preventing eye injuries related to fireworks and emphasizing how eye trauma from fireworks can lead to permanent blindness.
RELATED: First-Aid Tips: Fireworks Eye Injury
National Eyewear Day
Date: 6 June 2026
National Eyewear Day is observed every year on 6 June, and in 2026, it will again highlight the need to wear appropriate eyewear for vision correction and eye protection. The day raises awareness about proper lenses and protective eyewear for work, sports, and daily life.
Nystagmus Awareness Day
Date: 20 June 2026
Nystagmus Awareness Day educates about nystagmus. This special day aims to improve understanding of the condition, promote support and highlight the challenges faced by people living with the condition.
July 2026 Eyecare Awareness
UV Safety Awareness Month
Dry Eye Awareness Month
National Different Colored Eyes Day
UV Safety Awareness Month
Date: All month
In July, the eye health industry highlights UV Eye Safety and Summer Eye Protection. The timing is perfect with the increased sun exposure during the summer months, which raises the risk of UV-related eye damage. Awareness efforts focus on wearing UV-protective sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats and protecting children’s eyes during outdoor activities.
Dry Eye Awareness Month
Date: All month
The focus is on raising awareness of dry eye disease and its symptoms, such as irritation, burning, fluctuating vision and redness. As well as sharing knowledge about the risks and irritants - screen use, contact lenses, medications, and aging. The month highlights proper diagnosis of dry eye and modern treatment options.
National Different Colored Eyes Day
Date: 12 July 2026
The day celebrates people with heterochromia and raises awareness of eye colour differences which are usually harmless but can sometimes be associated with eye or medical conditions.
August 2026 Ophthalmology Highlights
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
National Eye Exam Month
Contact Lens Health Week
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Date: All month
The focus is on the importance of pediatric eye exams before the school year starts. The campaign also promotes early detection of refractive errors and amblyopia and protecting children’s eyes during sports, play, and daily activities.
RELATED: Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)
National Eye Exam Month
Date: All month
National Eye Exam Month focuses on the importance of eye examinations for people of all ages, even in the absence of symptoms. The initiative is all about providing free eye exams and educating about early eye disease detection, accurate vision correction, and the role of routine exams in overall health.
Contact Lens Health Week
Date: 17-21 August 2026
The awareness initiative of Contact Lens Health Week covers safe contact lens use, lens hygiene and correct wearing schedules. In addition, it focuses on the prevention of contact lens–related complications, infections and corneal damage.
September 2026 Ophthalmology Calendar
Sports Eye Safety Month
Sports Eye Safety Month
Date: All month
The eye care field celebrates Sports Eye Safety Month in September. It aims to stop eye injuries from sports and recreational activities. It covers the risk of eye trauma in children and adults, emphasizes protective eyewear use, and highlights how sports-related eye injuries are avoidable with enough safety measures and education.
October 2026 Ophthalmology Awareness
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Blindness Awareness Month
Contact Lens Safety Month
World Sight Day
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Date: All month
October is about reminding people how easy it is to damage the eyes and how that's preventable. Whether at work, during sports or even at home, simple steps can make a huge difference in preserving one's vision.
Blindness Awareness Month
Date: All month
Blindness Awareness Month shines a light on vision loss causes and the realities people face every day. It also emphasizes that blindness is often preventable or treatable with timely eye care and regular check-ups.
Contact Lens Safety Month
Date: All month
Wearing contact lenses is convenient, but only when they’re used correctly. This awareness month focuses on good hygiene and proper wear to avoid infections and long-term eye problems.
World Sight Day
Date: 8 October 2026
World Sight Day is a global reminder of how precious vision is. It highlights the importance of access to eye care worldwide and encourages everyone to take eye health seriously. Because good vision changes lives.
November 2026 Eyecare Special Days
Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month
Diabetic Eye Awareness Month
Date: All month
This awareness event in November focuses on the impact of diabetes on eye health. Particularly, conditions like diabetic retinopathy which can progress without early symptoms. The initiative encourages people with diabetes to have regular eye examinations and keep their blood sugar under control.
December 2026 Eye Health Awareness
Gift of Sight Month
Gift of Sight Month
Date: All month
Gift of Sight Month highlights the life-changing impact of eye donation and vision care. It encourages people to consider corneal donation and supports efforts that restore sight through transplants, treatment, and access to eye care, offering others the chance to see the world again.
