WSD 2022 – How Alcon Is Championing Vision Awareness and Access to Eye Care Globally

(PRESS RELEASE) Alcon, the global leader in eye care, is supporting to raise awareness of vision impairment and improve access to critical eye care services globally.

Through volunteering time and monetary support, Alcon associates across the globe will be honoring World Sight Day to focus attention on the universal issue of avoidable blindness and vision impairment. Alcon’s activities underway include:

• Ensuring Global Vision Awareness and Eye Care Access:
  • Alcon Children’s Vision Program in Fort Worth, TX: As part of Alcon’s ongoing partnership with the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) in Texas, nearly 170 Alcon associates volunteered to deliver free vision screenings for elementary-aged students. More than 21,000 FWISD students (Pre-K through 5th grade) have been screened by Alcon volunteers this year and an estimated 5,000 more will be screened between World Sight Day and October 18. As part of Alcon’s ESG initiatives, Alcon has committed to delivering 150,000 screenings to children by 2025.
  • Children’s Vision Awareness Workshop in Geneva, Switzerland: On World Sight Day, Alcon associates in Geneva, Switzerland, in partnership with Pro Natura Genève, will pilot a workshop for school-aged children (10-12 years old) to educate them on the importance of vision by leveraging nature and science in a creative way. With the topic “from the infinitely small to the infinitely big,” children will be able to observe nature and space through microscopes and a telescope to foster their interest in vision, nature and technology.
  • India’s Children Eye Screening Camp: During World Sight Day, Alcon India will provide vision screenings for 140 children from two different orphanages to provide eye care to underserved children. More than 50+ Alcon associates will be volunteering to help with the screenings.
• The second annual Alcon Japan Sight Day Fireworks Show:
  • On the evening of October 10 in Harumi, Tokyo, in honor of Japan Sight Day, Alcon held their second annual Japan Sight Day Fireworks Show. The event was held to educate people about the “20-20-20 rule” (look at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes when using a digital device) to lessen the impact of prolonged use of digital devices on eye health. By leveraging Shikakeology (theories and methodologies of behavior change), the event encouraged people to naturally look away from digital devices that have become indispensable in their daily lives and watch the fireworks.
• World Sight Day Global Associate Photo Contest:
  • In honor of World Sight Day, Alcon is hosting a global associate photo contest from October 10-17 where they will have an opportunity to submit a photo that depicts the importance of eye health, access to eye care or a self-portrait that focuses on the importance of eyes or vision. Winners of the photo contest will receive a $10,000 that they can donate to an eligible eye health organization of their choosing. Winners will be announced on November 1, and the winning photo will be used in Alcon’s 2023 WSD global campaign.