World Sight Day is observed around the globe every year on the second Thursday of October.
The annual event was founded in 2000 by the Lions Club International Foundation. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) since has assumed ownership of World Sight Day with support by the World Health Organization (WHO).
And since 2015, the IAPB has sponsored a photo competition, which encourages professional and amateur photographers to capture images of the profound power of sight.
The IAPB World Sight Day 2023 Photo Competition is part of the IAPB World Sight Day #LoveYourEyes campaign. This year’s competition, made possible with support from Bayer Ophthalmology, will focus on eye health in the workplace.
Submissions can be made here. The competition is accepting images until October 20. Prizes include $1,000 and $750 cash prizes.
World Sight Day this year is Thursday, Oct. 12.
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Since 2015, the IAPB World Sight Day Photo Competition has highlighted the importance of eye health, shone a light on the social and economic impact of sight loss, and celebrated the tireless efforts of those who work to ensure eye health for all.
The 2023 competition welcomes a panel of six expert judges, each a leading voice in their field, and together representing diverse experience, expertise, and perspective. The judges for the IAPB World Sight Day 2023 Photo Competition include IAPB president, Caroline Casey, Optometrist and World Sight Day 2022 Photo Competition Winner, Kwame Yeboah, senior vice-president, editorial director of Vision Monday and VMail, Jobson Optical Group, Marge Axelrad, Guide, Scientist, Writer and professional photographer, Aníbal Bueno, professional photographer, Imraan Gallo, and Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon at St Paul’s Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Professor Ian Pearce.
Launching this year’s competition, Simon Darvill, director of Communications, Campaigns & Events at IAPB said. “We are excited to launch this year’s World Sight Day Photo Competition. The competition continues to be a highlight of the #LoveYourEyes campaign, and each year we are impressed by the caliber of submissions. This year, World Sight Day is focusing on the world of work and highlighting the critical importance of prioritising eye care. To tie this theme into the photo competition IAPB has added a new category ‘LOVE YOUR EYES AT WORK’, encouraging participants to submit a picture capturing subjects prioritising eye care in the workplace.
“Our judges panel represents an impressive range of expertise and experience, individuals at the forefront of championing inclusion and equality, and those who stand for professional excellence. The competition is fun, but we know the importance of the images submitted. Solving universal eye health is within our grasp and sharing images is an important piece of generating awareness that reaches leaders and decision-makers. We all have stories to share, and we cannot wait to see yours,” Darvill concluded.
Last year’s Professional Photo of the Year winner and judge for this year’s competition, Kwame Yeboah said, “I fully recognize the importance of eye health and the impact of vision loss on individuals and societies worldwide. I am delighted to be part of this year’s photo competition, an initiative that aims to raise awareness and promote accessible, available and affordable eye care for all.”
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