1:30min
In a bid to reach 10 million sight test pledges, optometrists are invited to join the #LoveYourEyes campaign by pledging the number of eye tests they will carry out leading up to World Sight Day.
Held on 12 October 2023, World Sight Day is one of the most important days of the year for the sector to talk about good vision and eye health, and encourage the public to learn about eye safety and the need for regular eye tests. World Sight Day is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and celebrated globally.
The theme for this year’s awareness day is #LoveYourEyes at Work – a call to action to prioritise eye care in the workplace.
According to a new report released by the IAPB and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 13 million people live with vision impairment linked to their work, with an estimated 3.5 million eye injuries occurring in the workplace every year. Yet, more than 90 per cent of vision impairment cases are either preventable or treatable. The report underscores the need for a coordinated global, national and workplace initiative to protect workers’ wellbeing, since eye health is an integral part of workers’ health.
The theme #LoveYourEyes at Work encourages workplaces to make eye health initiatives standard practice and promote eye health habits that will benefit the wellbeing, safety and productivity of millions of employees.
Make the pledge
The IAPB is inviting all eye health professionals to make a commitment to #LoveYourEyes by calculating, approximately, the number of eye exams and screenings they will carry out over the course of 100 days and pledge that number.
The intent behind achieving 10 million pledges is to prove how many eye tests and screenings can happen over 100 days, serving as a reminder for the public to access the care that is available and driving demand from the ground up.
Social media assets are available on the IAPB website to celebrate your pledge and involvement in 10 million pledges.
Other ways to join the campaign
As part of the campaign, IAPB is once again holding their annual World Sight Day Photo Competition, offering an opportunity for both amateur and professional photographers to demonstrate their skills and share with the world images that capture the range of what it means to have healthy vision. The deadline for submissions is October 20 and winners will be announced on November 1.
Other resource materials, including a free media kit for eye health professionals to spread the word about World Sight Day, workplace resources and posters, are available for download on the IAPB website.
Optometry Australia encourages all members sharing images for World Sight Day to tag us on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram). Hashtags for the 2023 World Sight Day are #LoveYourEyes and #WorldSightDayAU.