International World Sight Day is Thursday, October 14, 2021
Did you know that more than one billion people around the world cannot see well because they do not have the means to obtain prescription eyeglasses?
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is committed to a world in which no one is needlessly visually impaired, where everyone has access to the best possible standard of eye health; and where those with irreparable vision loss achieve their full potential.
World Vision Facts from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)
- Approximately 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness
- Of these, 39 million people are blind and 246 million have a moderate or severe visual impairment
- 90% of blind people live in low-income countries
- Yet 80% of visual impairment is avoidable – i.e., readily treatable and/or preventable
- The number of people blind from infectious causes has greatly reduced in the past 20 years
- An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired
- Increasing elderly populations in many countries mean that more people will be at risk of age-blindness
- Restorations of sight, and blindness prevention strategies are among the most cost-effective interventions
- in health care
- About 65% of all people who are visually impaired are aged 50 and older, while this age group comprises only 20% of the world’s population
The theme for 2021 World Site Day is Love Your Eyes and they are asking everyone to pay attention to their eye health. Their ambitious worldwide goal is to have one million people take the eye test pledge.
When was the last time you had your eyes checked? This October is a good time to do that!
To learn more visit https://www.iapb.org/news/2021-world-sight-day-theme-announced/.
