World Sight Day ― Date, History, and Details
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Let's dive deeper into learning more about the history of World Sight Day and why people celebrate or observe it.
History of World Sight Day and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. The day is observed on the second Thursday of October.
The theme for World Sight Day 2020 is “Hope in Sight”. The day is an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made in the prevention and treatment of blindness and vision impairment, and to call for further action to ensure that everyone has access to quality eye care.
According to the World Health Organization, around 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment, of which 217 million have a severe visual impairment and 36 million are blind. It is estimated that 80% of all vision impairment is avoidable.
There are many causes of vision impairment, including refractive error, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and trachoma. However, many of these conditions are preventable or treatable.
Simple measures, such as wearing sunglasses and hats to protect against ultraviolet radiation, can help prevent some conditions. Regular eye exams can detect problems early and prompt treatment that can prevent or delay vision loss.
World Sight Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and to call for action to ensure that everyone has access to quality eye care.