World Sight Day and The Importance of Prioritising Your Eye Health

The Issues

• 450 million children have a sight condition that requires treatment, with many unable to access affordable, available eye care.
• Children in low- and middle-income countries with vision loss are 2-5x less likely to be in school.
• Every day, young people miss out on learning and social opportunities because of a vision issue that could be treated, corrected, and often cured.

The Goals

The aim of World Sight Day is to create a world where every child has access to affordable eye care. We’re working towards a generation of children who have all the information they need to look after their vision and take steps to protect their eyes. This could be reducing screen time and understanding the importance of being outside, as well as knowing to seek help for any ailments and discomfort.

On top of this, World Sight Day is to reduce the social stigma associated with wearing glasses.

Opticare is joining the pledge to make children’s eye health a top priority and becoming a part of the global movement to call for accessible and affordable eye care for children everywhere.

You too can take the pledge here.

So How Can You Protect Your Eyes On World Sight Day?

 1) Follow the 20/20/20 rule to give your eyes screen breaks (every 20 minutes look at an object 20ft away for 20 seconds).

2) Spend time outside. Exposing your eyes to natural light helps to regulate your sleep-wake cycle and supports your overall eye health. Furthermore, UVB rays from the sun helps your body produce Vitamin D, an essential nutrient for eye health.

3) Wear sunglasses outside.

4) Wear prescription glasses if you need them.

5) Check your cosmetics to avoid eye infections. The most common and most harmful ingredients you want to avoid are parabens, formaldehyde, lead, and phthalates.

6) Exercise regularly.

7) Eat a healthy diet.

8) Don’t smoke.

9) Book an eye test to detect problems before they arise.

You can book in an appointment with Opticare Opticians here.

What Else Does the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Do?

IAPB’s ‘Love Your Eyes’ Campaign

The ‘Love Your Eyes’ Campaign focuses on accessible and affordable eyecare for everyone by 2030.

They’ve recently expanded this campaign to ‘Love Your Eyes at Work’, with focus of the protection of your eyes in the workplace.

• Millions of workers cannot see clearly.
• Millions of people are forced to leave the workforce early.
• Billions of dollars in productivity are lost every year.
• About 143 million of the working age population in 2020 were living with moderate or severe vision impairment.
• The annual global productivity loss from vision impairment is approximately $411 billion.
• Vision impairment has caused a 22% decrease in accuracy and 10% reduction in productivity at work.

Clearly

Clearly was founded by IAPB Global Ambassador James Chen in 2016 and campaigns to make sure that everyone in the world can get an eye test and an affordable pair of glasses.

Clearly’s biggest successes so far have been:

• Encouraging Commonwealth leaders in 2018 to commit to providing ‘quality eye care for all’.
• Founding the United Nations’ Friends of Vision group.
• Publishing gold standard research on the links between vision and productivity.
• Engaging a number of celebrities to put their #GlassesOn.

Read more about the important work the IAPD do here.