World Sight Day 2024

World Sight Day is a time to come together and celebrate the impact of eye care whilst raising awareness of the many communities around the world who lack access to essential eye care.

Love your Eyes campaign logo with Seymour the bear

What Is World Sight Day?

Over 1.1 billion people live with sight loss globally, yet for 90% of them this is treatable or preventable. By coming together on World Sight Day, you are joining a movement to create a world where everyone has access to the eye care they need to thrive.

Blindness and visual impairment from conditions like strabismus, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity can be entirely prevented or treated if caught early. Trachoma can be cured with a simple dose of antibiotics, and cataracts can be eliminated surgery taking as little as 20 minutes. These sight-saving interventions are within reach, yet millions today still suffer with sight loss and blindness unnecessarily.

Wondimu and Zenash received antibiotics to treat trachoma in Ethiopia

With your support, Orbis and the eye health community are exchanging skills with eye health professionals all over the world and strengthening the quality of eye care systems in communities where it is needed the most. We can reduce blindness and visual impairment from avoidable causes, and the negative effects that come with it for generations.

World Sight Day is hosted by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness with a different theme each year to raise awareness of this important global health issue.

Blindness in Numbers

World Sight Day 2024 – the Love Your Eyes Campaign

You can share your #myEYEstory for World Sight Day 2024

This World Sight Day 2024, Orbis is highlighting the importance of prioritising children's eye health and for children everywhere to have the chance to love their eyes. 

Globally, there are 450 million children who cannot get the treatment they need for a sight condition. Addressing child vision impairment improves children's school outcomes, boosts their confidence, and make playing and making friends easier. Something as small as a pair of glasses can help a child live life to the full and realise their potential. 

Eye exams are important for catching issues early and keeping your eyes healthy. This is especially true for children whose vision may not develop properly if a problem goes undetected and untreated. Unfortunately, not all children have access to eye screenings.

Dylan, who lives in the UK, was born prematurely which put him at risk for vision problems. He shares how he was screened for suspected strabismus and tells us about the eye care he received. In the video, Dylan shares his #myEYEstory.

Do you or someone you know wear glasses? We'd love to hear your story of what it was like to get your first pair or how eye care has changed your life. Share your story on social media using the hashtag #myEYEstory. By sharing your story this World Sight Day, you are helping to raise awareness of the need to give all children access to eye care, and helping to promote how wearing eye care positively impacts our lives everywhere.

Inspirational Eye Sight Recovery Stories From Around the World

Orbis Partners & World Sight Day 2024

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