World Sight Day

World Sight Day

The eyes are the window to the soul and our window to view the world around us. It's through them we experience the beauty of the mountains, the smile of a loved one, and our favorite movie. Good vision is an essential component of living an engaging and fruitful life for many of us. But eye care is one aspect of health that can fall to the wayside until it is too late. 

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) holds World Sight Day every October. IAPB is an alliance of over 150 organizations in over 100 countries with the goal of working together to ensure everyone everywhere has access to universal eye care. They hope to end avoidable sight loss worldwide with appropriate access to care.

This year join us, the IAPB, and people around the globe in celebration and protection of our eyes.

 

World Sight Day

World Sight  Day takes place Thursday, October 13, 2022. It is a time for both eye care professionals and the public to come together and promote the importance of maintaining eye health for everyone, everywhere. The goal of the day is to:

  • Focus attention on eye health as a global issue
  • Raise awareness of the importance of eye health for individuals, families, and communities
  • Influence policy decisions that prioritize eye health initiatives globally

It isn’t all policy and activism; there are a number of ways for anyone to get involved in the event and set themselves on the path to a clearer and brighter future.

How to Get Involved This Year

The first and easiest way to get involved in World Sight Day is to make sure you have scheduled your annual eye exam. Even if you aren’t due this month, make sure you have a date set and take the pledge to love your eyes. Encourage friends and family to do the same to help spread the word.

This year the IAPB is hosting a photo competition for World Sight Day. Whether you are an amateur or professional photographer, it is a chance to demonstrate your skill and share with the world what you see and love about your eyes and the world around you. 

Photos should highlight the importance of eye health and what it means to have healthy vision. There are five categories this year, including:

  • Your Eyes: Showcase the importance of access to health services by capturing eye care in action.
  • Everyone Everywhere: A portrait of an individual, either posed or observed.
  • Health for All: A picture of health professionals providing service to celebrate their efforts.
  • Hope: Submit a photo of a magical moment highlighting joy and hope for the future.
  • Eye-sights: Snap a photo of something in everyday life that resembles an eye from random objects, landscapes, or clouds.

You can find more information about the competition, see past entries, and submit your photo for this year's competition through the 20th of October at the contest site.

Taking Care of Your Vision Year Round

Focusing on eye health isn’t something that should be done only one day, or month, of the year. Make sure that you take care of your vision year-round to protect the longevity of your eyesight. A few of the top recommendations from the IAPB are:

  • Use the 20/20/20 rule to give your eyes a break from screen time. Remember to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.
  • Spend time outside for not only your overall health but also your eye health. It can help younger eyes develop and prevent nearsightedness.
  • Don’t forget sunglasses to protect your eyes from damaging radiation.
  • If you need prescription glasses or contacts, don’t forget to wear them. It will reduce eye strain and headaches.
  • Exercise regularly and eat healthily to promote healthy eyes.
  • If you wear makeup, regularly replace brushes and applicators and check the expiration date to prevent eye infections.
  • Smoking increases the likelihood of severe eye conditions and sight loss; there is no time like the present to start your journey toward quitting.
  • Get your eyes examined every 1-2 years to catch conditions early.

If you would like more information, check out our article on how to improve your vision care. We go over the symptoms to pay attention to that might help you catch eye conditions early, tips for protecting your eyes in the office, and some foods that can help promote good vision. 

Asheville Vision and Wellness

We all have different histories and lifestyles, making everyone's eye care needs unique. Take this October to refocus on taking care of yourself and your vision. Join us on World Sight Day by focusing on eye wellness. If it has been a while since you had an eye exam, you should have an eye doctor that takes you into consideration and can give common-sense recommendations. 

Schedule an appointment with Asheville Vision and Wellness today to see what experienced care with the latest technology can do for your vision needs. 

For over three decades, we have helped patients throughout western North Carolina with a wide variety of eye care, including comprehensive eye examinations, contact lenses, and medical eye evaluations.  We also have a wide variety of the latest in eyewear, from basic to designer.

If you need a regular eye exam or think you may be at risk for eye disease, come in and talk to our specialists today. Our optometrists are certified in diagnosing, treating, and managing ocular diseases.

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