Since 2000, World Sight Day has been observed every year on the second Thursday of October, this year it falls on the 13th of October.
In 1990 the Lions Clubs International Foundation initiated their ‘SightFirst’ Campaign aimed to fight blindness. In 2000 they joined with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (I.A.P.B) and proclaimed a World Sight Day in October.
In line with the VISION 2020: Right to Sight initiative, the primary objective of World Sight Day is to spread awareness to the public about preventable blindness and aims to promote a world in which nobody is needlessly visually impaired.
What is happening in Namibia?
Around Namibia the local Lions Clubs will be hosting campaigns within the various communities.
The Lions Club together with the help from the Namibian Optometry Association (NOA) will arrange optometric examinations that will be performed and spectacles will be made and distributed within these communities.
With this year’s theme #LoveYourEyes you can join in and pledge to look after your eyes in 2022. The global target is 5 million pledges for 2022 and every pledge helps towards the goal.
You can pledge to:
- Love your eyes
- Prioritize your eyes
- Protect your eyes
- Put your eyes first
How can we help you?
- Have your eyes tested
- Be informed about sun protection
- Information about blue light exposure and available coatings
- Let us educate you about preventable visual impairment, such as Glaucoma and Cataracts
Make an appointment!
There is also an annual World Sight Day photography competition which is open to photographers both amateur and professional, anywhere in the world. See what inspires you and take part. https://www.iapb.org/world-sight-day/