WORLD SIGHT DAY

In October, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) launched its Love Your Eyes global campaign. The goal of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness of the social and economic impacts of blindness across the world.

Across the world, many suffer from poor eye health. As a result of this, many of those living in developing countries fall into extreme poverty. In many of these countries, eye healthcare systems lack essential resources and funding causing some of the most vulnerable to suffer needlessly.

Blindness has become a serious public health crisis. 90% of blindness is treatable and/or preventable. Many organisations such as our Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation, are working towards supporting those suffering from preventable blindness and giving vulnerable people a second chance at life.

The Love Your Eyes campaign is leading up to the IAPB’s World Sight Day which takes place on the 13th of October. Much like the campaign, World Sight Day is a way to call upon different organizations, governments and industry leaders to create change and create recognition for eye health.

One of the key points of World Sight Day 2022 is to pledge your eye test. The IAPB is encouraging individuals to get their eyes tested and pledge to take care of their eyes. The IABP is also encouraging organizations to pledge all the tests that they have carried out. As part of this, the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation are pledging all further screenings and surgeries towards the IAPB’’s World Sight Day aim to have 5 million pledged eye tests.

Our Collaborators

For World Sight Day 2022 we created a hub for articles related to our work and vision issues all over the world, published on the London-based newspaper CityAM online site.

We sought out people and organisations to collaborate with on this project, all united in a shared goal of ending needless blindness and supporting research into sight and vision loss.

Vision Catalyst Fund

The Vision Catalyst Fund is catalysing $1 billion of new money to bring permanent access to eye health to all those who need it. Contributors include Dr Astrid Bonfield and Alex Kenedy at the Standard Chartered Bank.

Orbis UK

Orbis UK is an international sight-loss charity.

International Centre For Eye Health

The ICEH works to improve vision and eye health worldwide, with a focus on low- and middle-income populations

Vision and Eye Research Unit – Anglia Ruskin University

The Vision and Eye Research Institute (VERI, formerly VERU), carries out ground-breaking research into eye diseases at Anglia Ruskin University.

May Griffith

May Griffith is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Université de Montréal.

Peek Vision

Peek is an evidence-led, impact-driven organisation, focused on the people and communities who can benefit the most from improved access to eye care.

Aisha Memon

Aisha Memon is a recent graduate from University College London (UK). She completed her undergraduate studies in 2021 focusing on Cellular and Molecular Biology, and went on to complete a masters in Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine. She worked on the development of a biosynthetic cornea as her masters project under the Patra Lab, investigating how the implant can be modified to protect against a herpes simplex infection for patient personalisation.

WORLD SIGHT DAY

Our Collaborators

For World Sight Day 2022 we created a hub for articles related to our work and vision issues all over the world, published on the London-based newspaper CityAM online site.

We sought out people and organisations to collaborate with on this project, all united in a shared goal of ending needless blindness and supporting research into sight and vision loss.

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