The World Sight Day is globally observed on the second Thursday of October and this year it falls on October 12. It was originally initiated by the Sight First Campaign of Lions Club International Foundation in 2000.The day is observed to encourage people to focus on eye health, conditions of blindness, sight impairment, and other eyesight issue. It also recognizes the work done by ophthalmologists across the world to fix vision impairment. On this day, a point to note is right now there are over a billion people who cannot see properly simply because they do not have access to glasses. Organizations, healthcare professionals, and communities come together to promote the importance of vision and work towards the prevention of avoidable blindness. Each year, World Sight Day has a specific theme to address key issues in eye health and vision care. The theme for World Sight Day 2023 is “Focusing on preservation of vision in the workplace.”

Importance of good sight

Sight and vision are important because they allow us to connect with our surroundings, keep us safe, and help maintain the sharpness of our minds. Sight and vision are different entities. Sight is physical – it is a sensory experience in which light reflects off of shapes and objects and the eyes then focus this light. Signals are sent to the brain to be converted into images. Vision is how the mind, an aspect of the brain, interprets these images. Vision is a metaphysical concept. Sight may allow a person to witness an event, but vision helps the person understand the significance of that event and draw interpretations. The two are harmonious, and are very important in our everyday lives.

Tips to improve eyesight

According to the National Institute for Aging, one should get regular eye exams to ensure that any problem does not go unnoticed. The institute suggests conducting a dilated eye exam once every year or once in two years for the following individuals:

• Those who are at least 60 years old.
• Those with a family history of glaucoma.
• Diabetics patients.
• Those who suffer from hypertension.

Some of the other tips to improve eyesight include wearing protective gear against harmful UV radiation, quitting smoking, following a nutritious diet with carotenoids, zinc, vitamins C and E, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping a check on diabetes and blood pressure levels.

“ To keep eyes healthy, the same things that keep the rest of you healthy work best,” Forbes quoted Sebastian Heersink, an ophthalmologist at Eye Center South in Dothan, Alabama, as saying.

Tips for Protecting Vision:

• Eat healthy food containing vitamins.
• Limit screen time.
• Get enough sleep.
• Spend time outdoors.
• Weasunglasses.
• Use protective eye wear.
• Get regular eye exams.

In conclusion, World Sight Day is a globally recognized event with significant importance. It serves as a platform to raise awareness about eye health issues and the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment. The day promotes advocacy, prevention, and early treatment, fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals and organizations worldwide. It plays a crucial role in educating communities, fundraising for eye care initiatives, and influencing policy changes to improve global eye health.