World Sight Day 2023
Around one billion people in the world suffer due to an untreated or preventable vision loss. To focus global attention on visual impairment, blindness and significance of eye health, the World Sight Day was observed for the first time on 12th October 2000. This day is observed on the second Thursday of October every year. It is now managed by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in association with the World Health Organisation. This day is a reminder for the global community for regular eye examinations, early diagnosis and treatment. It also aims for the global effort to reduce preventable blindness and enhance the quality of life for blind individuals.
This year, World Sight Day was observed on 12th October. The theme for 2023 is to focus everyone towards the importance of eye healthcare in work settings and encouraging employers to prioritise eye health of their employees. This includes looking after your own eye health and by your business leaders. The major goal is to ensure that eye care is available, accessible and affordable to all, irrespective of gender, age and socio-economic backgrounds. The agenda is to #LoveYourEyes at work.
A list of workplace resources and toolkits for good eye health, provided by IAPB can be found at https://www.iapb.org/world-sight-day/toolkits-and-resources/#Workplace
On the occasion of world sight day, WHO has launched a free app called ‘WHOeyes’ to provide an easy and simple way to check vision at home, including long and short distance test. The app is available for both iOS and Android, and is also available in the six United Nations languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Below are some simple steps to love your eyes at work:
- Regular eye examinations
- Give your eyes a break
- Limit eye strain
- Hydrate your eyes regularly
- Eat healthy
- Perform eye exercises
Creating awareness and taking actions about good eye health at workplace must be prioritised by the leaders across the globe!
