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October 10 is World Sight Day, a date that is dedicated to raising awareness about eye health and vision loss prevention. This year, the event focuses on eye care’s importance in children and inspires them to love their eyes.
Coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, this day serves as a platform to advocate for accessible eye-care services, promote educational initiatives about eye health and encourage individuals to prioritize their vision.
According to a recent survey by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), 39 per cent of Canadian parents reported that their child had experienced one or more symptoms related to their eyes and vision in the past two years. Dr. Vivian Hill, a Canadian pediatric ophthalmologist, emphasizes various ways everyone can promote eye health:
• Regular eye exams: Parents should ensure their children have regular eye exams. Early detection is key to preventing and managing eye conditions effectively.
• Education and awareness: In addition to schools and educational centres being an important source of education around eye and vision health, there are also free resources available online, such as seethepossibilities.ca. The site has information about the four major eye diseases, including risk factors, symptoms and treatment, other vision health matters, free tests that can help determine whether you have any problems with your vision, and initiatives by the COS, such as the upcoming World Sight Day photography contest.
• Access to eye care services: Affordable and comprehensive eye care services are essential to a child’s development.
World Sight Day reminds us of the importance of vision and the need for continued efforts to improve eye health. By focusing on children, we can ensure that the next generation grows up with the best possible vision, enabling them to thrive academically, socially and personally.
Visit See The Possibilities (seethepossibilities.ca) to learn more about the role of ophthalmology and Canada’s eye physicians and surgeons, and our World Sight Day campaign and photo contest.
