October 9, 2014 is World Sight Day. This is a day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. The World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness are actively involved in promoting the day on an annual basis. They raise awareness of blindness and impairments, influence governments and health ministers to participate and designate funds for blindness prevention programs and to educate audiences about blindness prevention.
Here are some facts about blindness and impairments:
1. 90% of blind people live in low income countries where older people face barriers to getting the necessary eye health care.
2.Roughly 285 million people in the world are living with low vision or blindness.
3.80% of visual impairment is avoidable by early prevention and treatment.
4. 65% of the population that is blind is over the age of 50.
5. Approximately 19 million children are visually impaired.
For more information about what you can do to participate in World Sight Day and raise awareness for vision impairment and blindness check out this link: http://www.iapb.org/wsd14/wsd14-suggested-activities.
