Good afternoon, dear readers. Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley
wishes you a happy-day-after “World Sight Day.” While this is not a
recognizable holiday to many (as Halloween is), for reasons we are sure you
understand, “World Sight Day” is worthy of our personal recognition and
respect.
What exactly, some are asking, is “World Sight Day”?
For those of you who are interested (and we hope more than a
few are), since 1998, every second Thursday in October has been designated as
“World Sight Day.” Among the forces behind this day of eye care commemoration
are Lions Clubs International,
the World Health Organization (WHO), and
the International Agency for the Prevention of
Blindness (IAPB). Together, these organizations work to raise public
awareness about everything from blindness to cataracts to any and every issue
that is related to vision health. (Oh, were you aware that the World Health
Organization is the direct authority for health and wellness to the United
Nations? How’s that for credentials?)
In addition to public awareness, other activities on “World
Sight Day” include alerting and asking world governments to contribute funding
to blindness prevention programs. Additional awareness is made regarding VISION
2020.
What is VISION 2020? SO glad you asked…
VISION 2020:
The Right to Sight is a global initiative. Its purpose is to eliminate –
worldwide – all treatable causes of blindness by the year 2020. (Interesting
play on the term “2020,” isn’t it? Eliminate blindness by the year 2020 – which
is also the number ratio for “perfect” vision.)
This is an especially important development in today’s
world. Think about it. The “baby boomer” generation is, believe it or not,
growing older. Eye-related conditions and concerns are growing right along with
this aging generation of the world’s population. The good news is that many of
these conditions can be either avoided or treated by timely and proper
intervention. (Does this give you enough reason to schedule an eye
exam?) And intervention is a result of knowledge, which is a result of
awareness. This is why “World Sight Day” is as important as it is to us. We
hope that it will be important to you and your family and friends as well.
Here’s to hoping for a ripple effect of awareness –
throughout the world – for “World Sight Day.”
Thanks for reading…enjoy the weekend…and keep your sites on
healthy vision. (And again, a happy-day-after “World
Sight Day” to you…)
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