World Sight Day

On the second Thursday in October, World Sight Day encourages people to concentrate on vision health, blindness, and vision impairment.

The day is both a call to action and a call for concern regarding vision care around the world. Blindness and vision impairment can be reduced by disease prevention. World Sight Day aims to raise awareness and accessibility to care for those who need services beyond prevention.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 285 million people of all ages are visually impaired. Uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts are two of the visual impairments that result in visual impairment. Sadly, 80% of all visual impairments are preventable. People with visual impairments who are poor simply don't have the funds to buy a pair of eyeglasses. Many people are unable to afford cataract surgery, or there is no one in their area to perform the procedure.

39 million people are blind, out of those with visual impairments. The following are some of the most common causes of blindness:

Diabetes eye problems are seen in eye problems
Macular degeneration
Glaucoma
Traumatic injuries

In underdeveloped countries, infectious diseases are the leading cause of blindness. Herpes, trachoma, and leprosy were all common disorders. Vitamin A deficiencies can also lead to blindness. Retinopathy that occurs in premature infants can also go blind.

Blindness awareness has come a long way in the last 20 years, from education, diagnosis, and services. Braille readers and seeing-eye dogs were two of the most common ways to assist blind people at one time. Now, special footwear that helps a blind person walk in the right direction is included in this series. Other products include bionic eyes and glasses that help the colorblind see color.

Not only does the day want to improve services, but it also needs to change how the world sees those with vision impairments.

How to celebrate #worldsightday by following #worldsightday

World Sight Day is celebrated in 149 countries around the world. Awareness activities include seminars, launches, donation drives, marches, and online events. Join in the worldwide celebration of World Sight Day at The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Consider what it would be like to live in a world you could not imagine.

Reading is another way to educate yourself about visual impairments and blindness. Robert Kurson's book All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and The Man Who Dared to See by Anthony Doerr. To post on social media, use #WorldSightDay to post.

History of the world sight day has dominated history

In 2000, Lions Club International Foundation's Sight First Campaign launched the first World Sight Day. The day has been integrated into VISION 2020 and is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. A yearly call to action brought attention to specific needs for the visually impaired beginning in 2005. The following calls to action have been included:: The most recent calls to action include::

2019: Vision First!

Eye Care Everywhere Eye Care Everywhere is Everywhere in 2018: Eye Care Everywhere.

***2017: Make Vision Count

2016: Stronger Together is a Better Together is a Better Together.

Eye Care for All Eyes 2015: Eye Care for All Eyes.