Optometry Giving Sight has launched its 10th annual fundraising drive to help raise funds for people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired, simply because they can’t access an eye exam and vision care. This year’s World Sight Day Challenge will focus on the need for effective, sustainable eye health initiatives for children and adolescents. The campaign will run throughout October, with World Sight Day itself on 13 October.
“All of us can appreciate the importance of good vision – not just for ourselves and our families, but for the many children around the world who don’t have access to the vision care services they need,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Aragon, Global Chair of Optometry Giving Sight. “After all, if you can’t see, you can’t learn, and that condemns many to a life of poverty and disadvantage.
Optometrists, their practice staff, patients, optometry students and colleagues in the industry have enthusiastically embraced the World Sight Day over the past 10 years. The Challenge raises funds to help eliminate uncorrected refractive error, estimated to affect more than 600 million people.
“It’s simple and fun to do,” said Clive Miller, Global CEO of Optometry Giving Sight. “Practices, schools and companies can involve their staff, friends, family and colleagues in fundraising activities throughout September and October.”
Practices, schools and companies can involve their staff, friends, family and colleagues in fundraising activities throughout September and October
Funds raised this year will support Our Children’s Vision – a global campaign to bring better vision, and eye health services to 50 million children by 2020.
Seventeen-year-old Socheata from Cambodia was in her final year of study but struggling with her sight when she received an eye examination as part of a School Eye Health program at her school.
“I found trying to see or read long distance an immense struggle, especially while the teacher was writing on the board. Once I received my spectacles I started to use them often… especially for school time and doing house work. I felt comfortable wearing my glasses and was no longer getting dizzy or suffering from headaches from straining my eyes”.
The School Eye Health program in Cambodia, which is co-funded by Optometry Giving Sight and implemented by the Brien Holden Vision Institute, has so far provided eye health services to 19,764 students and teachers and prescribed 2,225 spectacles at 10 schools. It also provided information about the importance of professional eye checks.
To donate to the World Sight Day Challenge, or for fundraising ideas and resources, visit www.givingsight.org or call (AUS) 1300 88 10 73.
