Remember, your eyes are precious

World Sight Day is an annual event that draws attention to the importance of eye care and promotes awareness about vision health. World Sight Day is on 12^th October 2023. World Sight Day was first established in 1998 by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The primary goal was to raise public awareness about blindness and vision impairment as major global health issues. Since then, World Sight Day has gained significant traction and has become an essential platform for promoting eye health and preventing avoidable blindness worldwide.

World Sight Day serves as an opportunity to highlight the critical role that vision plays in our daily lives and the need for accessible and affordable eye care services. It aims to mobilize governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), eye care professionals, and communities to address the growing burden of vision impairment.

Each year, World Sight Day focuses on a specific theme to guide activities and discussions related to eye health. The theme serves as a rallying point for individuals and organizations to unite and work towards a common goal. The themes are carefully chosen to address pressing issues and encourage meaningful action.

The theme for World Sight Day 2023 is “Love Your Eyes at Work.” This theme emphasizes the importance of protecting one’s vision in the workplace and urges employers to prioritize the eye health of their employees. By promoting eye health initiatives, employers can contribute to the well-being, safety, and productivity of their workforce.

World Sight Day is marked by a wide range of activities and initiatives that aim to promote eye health and raise awareness about vision impairment. These activities may include:

1. Sight Test Pledges

2. Workplace Eye Health Programs

3. Photo Competition

4. Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns

World Sight Day is a global initiative that seeks to raise awareness about vision health, prevent avoidable blindness, and promote access to quality eye care services. By focusing on a different theme each year, World Sight Day aims to address pressing issues and inspire meaningful action. This annual event brings together a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, eye care professionals, and employers, to work collaboratively towards improving eye health worldwide. Let us join hands and celebrate the gift of sight by supporting World Sight Day and advocating for a world with better vision and health for all.

“Love Your Eyes at Work” and beyond!

Written by: Rtr. Methmi Ranasinghe

Graphic design by: Rtr. Sathmi Dinanja