Katie Piper OBE marks World Sight Day

Katie Piper with Dr John Ferris

To celebrate World Sight Day (9 October), Orbis, the international eyecare charity, hosted an intimate breakfast event at the historic St Pancras London Hotel, situated in King’s Cross.

The gathering brought together high-profile people from the worlds of entertainment, fashion and the arts, as well as content creators and medical experts, to highlight the issue of avoidable sight loss and the ongoing work to ensure everyone has access to eyecare.

Guests included bestselling author, broadcaster and charity campaigner Katie Piper OBE, Escape to the Country presenter Sonali Shah, actress and comedian Nina Wadia OBE, and Great British Sewing Bee 2023 winner Dr Asmaa Al-Allak, and a host of other stars.

Alongside Katie Piper, the event welcomed content creators with lived experience of visual impairment, including visually impaired content creator Sylvia Chengo, and best-selling author and disability activist Dr Amit Patel.

Nina Wadia OBE

Attendees heard from Orbis spokespeople, including expert ophthalmologists and trustees of the charity Sheraz Daya, the founder of the Centre for Sight, and Dr John Ferris, about the 1.1 billion people living with vision loss, and the charity’s innovative approaches to providing treatment for those in need.

Guests had their irises photographed at Orbis’s pop-up iris photography stand in King’s Cross Station. The photography stand is open to the public until Friday 10 October.

Katie Piper said: “Access to quality eyecare can be truly life-changing, it allows people to regain independence, confidence and connection with the world around them. The work of skilled and compassionate medical professionals, like the ones who supported me, reminds us how vital it is to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to the same level of care.

“This World Sight Day, I’m supporting Orbis UK in their mission to help communities and children globally who deserve that same gift – ensuring that people across the globe can access the quality eye care when and where they need it. No-one should feel isolated or left behind because of limited access to eye care, surgery and treatment. Together we can help break the cycle of preventable vision loss.”

Colman Cawe, director of fundraising and communications at Orbis UK, said: “We’re hugely grateful to Sonali, Nina, Katie and all the wonderful supporters who joined us today to shine a light on avoidable sight loss. Their voices help us to raise vital awareness of the 1.1 billion people living with vision loss, of which 90 per cent of cases are avoidable. By standing alongside Orbis, they are helping us inspire others to take action, and support sight-saving work that can transform lives.”