Abstract
World Sight Day 2025 ("Love Your Eyes") was marked at Dr. Sumait Hospital, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, Somalia, on 9 October 2025 through the "Every Eye Counts" forum, combining invited talks, an expert panel discussion, and a free community eye screening. Screening included registration and brief history, presenting visual acuity assessment (with pinhole where indicated), anterior segment examination, risk-based intraocular pressure assessment, refraction when appropriate, and targeted posterior segment assessment for participants with diabetes/hypertension or clinical suspicion. A total of 628 community members attended; 59% (n=370) were female and 18% (n=113) were aged 6-17 years. Among participants with reduced acuity, impairment was most commonly associated with uncorrected refractive error and suspected cataract. The most frequently identified conditions were uncorrected refractive errors (41%), suspected cataract (23%), allergic conjunctivitis (19%), glaucoma risk (9%), and diabetic/hypertensive retinopathy changes (4%). On-site interventions included ready-made spectacles for 162 individuals (26%) and protective sunglasses for 51 participants, with health education reaching an estimated 480 attendees. In total, 134 patients (21%) were referred for specialist evaluation (64 cataract surgical evaluation; 28 glaucoma evaluation; 22 diabetic retinopathy assessment; 20 pediatric ophthalmology review). This report summarizes the forum themes, service outputs, and practical next steps to strengthen screening-to-care pathways in Somalia.