Aim
Sight – for those who have it,
don’t understand its value than those who do not have it. There are over a
billion people across the world who have a partial or fully visual impairment.
To address this concern, the World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World
Sight Day every year.
The day aims to promote awareness
and bring attention to these causes of eye diseases such as vision impairment
or blindness.
The occasion of World Sight Day is
observed every year on the second Thursday of October. The first observance of
World Sight Day took place in 2000.
Theme
Every year, there is a special
theme observed on World Sight Day. One of the official theme for World Sight
Day is “Hope in Sight”. Here’s a look the World Sight Day themes in the last few
years:
- Vision First
- Eye Care Everywhere
- Make Vision Count
- Stronger Together
- Eye care for all
Significance
The loss of partial vision or full
vision is not only a loss of sight, but it has major implications in other
aspects of life as well. There are several diseases such as diabetes, trachoma,
cataract, etc. which cause vision impairment. Hence, to bring focus to this
critical issue, the observance of World Sight Day brings global attention to
this very important cause.
Observance
There are several seminars which
are hosted by many countries that enlighten people about the causes of these
diseases and what can one do to prevent them, or even, contracting them. There
are workshops held across the schools and educational institutions that make
students aware of issues of vision impairment and other related diseases.
Observing World Sight Day is a timely reminder to all of us as to how grave the loss of sight is. It is sometimes even worse than losing a limb. Hence, one should be very careful with how they take care of their eyesight, and not strain it much.