What Is World Sight Day?
World Sight Day is an annual day of celebration and education dedicated to global eye care. The day is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
The initiative behind World Sight Day is to raise awareness about eye health and its vast importance in communities around the world. Highlighting the significance can help prioritize eye care and services for children and adults everywhere.
While World Sight Day is officially only one day a year, other related events are often held in July, August, and September, too.
When Is World Sight Day?
World Sight Day takes place on the second Thursday of October every year. World Sight Day 2024 is October 10, 2024.
What’s the Theme for World Sight Day 2024?
The World Sight Day theme for 2024 is eye health in young people.
Around the world, nearly half a billion children have at least one vision problem that needs correction or treatment. In response, the IAPB is asking parents, caregivers, and schools to provide eye tests for kids this October.
Vision tests and eye exams can be used to help detect and diagnose conditions that affect kids’ eyes and vision. These problems are often treatable but need to be diagnosed first. Without treatment, they can affect a child’s education and development.
Some of the more common childhood eye conditions are:
- Nearsightedness and farsightedness – Refractive errors that cause difficulty focusing on things that are nearby (farsightedness or hyperopia) or far away (nearsightedness or myopia).
- Astigmatism – A refractive error that causes blurred vision at any distance.
- Lazy eye (amblyopia) – Poor vision in a healthy eye due to eye misalignment or inactivity on the affected side.
- Crossed eyes (strabismus) – Misaligned eyes caused by dysfunctional eye muscles. One eye may look inward, outward, upward, or downward, while the other eye looks forward.
Many children face other eye conditions and diseases beyond the ones listed above. If your child struggles with an eye or vision problem, advocating for them is the best way to find the right care.
History of World Sight Day
Lions Club International began the tradition of World Sight Day in 1998. The organization collaborated with other vision-related foundations to fulfill the initiative at that time. Now, various businesses, institutions, and individuals continue to raise awareness worldwide.
The IAPB has also incorporated World Sight Day into their international campaign, VISION 2020.
How to Celebrate World Sight Day
Whether you’ are part of a corporation, an individual, or a doctor, anyone can celebrate World Sight Day. Taking care of your vision, encouraging others to do so, and spreading the word on social media are all easy ways to get involved.
The IAPB also holds a photo contest for World Sight Day every year with a photo theme of “what it means to love your eyes.” Entry categories include:
- Eye care professionals at work
- Children’s eye care
- Objects that look like eyes
- Eye safety in the workplace
Both professional and amateur photographers can submit photos online of what it means to #LoveYourEyes for a chance to win a prize.
Here are some other ways to get involved in the cause:
- Encourage your friends and family to get eye exams – Most people underestimate just how important regular eye check-ups are — especially eye exams for kids. Let people know that routine eye exams are some of the simplest and most important things they can do to protect their vision.
- Get an eye exam of your own – Be a shining example and schedule your own eye exam — even if your eyes and vision feel fine. After your exam, ask your eye doctor how often you should schedule future appointments.
- Support and promote vision-related charities – Even small donations can help people see better in your country and beyond. Your donation can also help fund research that allows experts to better understand and treat eye conditions.
- Join the conversation – Social media is a great way to connect with others who are passionate about World Sight Day and the messaging behind it. Join in by posting on social media and using hashtags such as #WorldSightDay and #LoveYourEyes.
You can also celebrate by treating yourself to some new eyewear. Eyebuydirect has a large selection of eyeglasses and sunglasses for children and adults. With thousands of pairs to choose from and amazing offers, we’re sure you’ll find a great style to #LoveYourEyes in!
