(PRESS RELEASE) SAN FRANCISCO, CA — RestoringVision is raising awareness this World Sight Day – October 13 – by engaging its partners worldwide to provide vision screenings and eyeglasses for those living on less than $2/day, encouraging new donors to join in solving the global vision crisis.
This year’s World Sight Day, coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), aims to shine a light on blindness and vision impairment as a major, but solvable, public health issue. Celebrated under the #LoveYourEyes campaign, World Sight Day calls on everyone to prioritize eye health while highlighting the issues facing over a billion people worldwide who cannot access or afford the care they need to see clearly.
“The World Health Organization’s World Report on Vision, issued in 2019, outlined in detail the global need for universal eye care, and the global implications of forgoing vision health in communities around the world,” said Pelin Munis, Ph.D., Executive Director of RestoringVision. “In 2021, the United Nations built on this report’s momentum by adopting a resolution, Vision for Everyone, asking countries to prioritize eye health for the 1.1 billion people living with preventable vision impairments. This resolution meant that for the first time, eye health was recognized as critical to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. RestoringVision is fiercely committed to this important work that lies at the intersection of global health, education, and economic development.”
“This year, RestoringVision will reach 3.5 million people with our vision services and eyeglasses, transforming lives for those who lack access and the ability to afford the glasses they need. We are increasing our programmatic footprint in Africa and Asia, and increasing outreach to refugees, specifically those displaced by the war on Ukraine. Donor support is more important than ever to accelerate our impact,” she added.
This World Sight Day, RestoringVision is working with its partners around the globe to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to see clearly, and that everyone can share in the joy of vision by saying #LoveYourEyes this October 13. Edgar Medina MD, MPH, Executive Director of Management Sciences for Health Peru and one of RestoringVision’s Global Access Program partners, said participating in World Sight Day aligns with his own mission to serve those in need. Dr. Medina emphasized the importance of partnerships with governments in order to advance eye health interventions.
“Low-cost public health interventions and awareness campaigns should be prioritized within Ministries of Health to serve the most vulnerable and low-income populations, addressing presbyopia with the delivery of reading glasses, and addressing the prevention of damage from solar radiation with the delivery of sunglasses with UV protection,” Dr. Medina said.
RestoringVision is also outlining in detail how prioritizing vision health advances eight of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with its blog series here on each SDG related to eye health.
“This World Sight Day, we invite new philanthropic partners to join us in solving the global vision crisis,” Munis said. “Become a vision champion this October 13 by donating to support RestoringVision’s global programming, by engaging as a corporate partner, and by sharing loud and proud on social media that you support giving the gift of sight to those who lack access and affordability to vision services and eyeglasses. Let’s work towards a world where everyone can see clearly.”
Get involved today: donate here and become a vision champion.