Each year, World Sight Day provides a chance to emphasize the importance of eye care. This World Sight Day, WCO proudly supported our partners at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in their annual #LoveYourEyes campaign. See how some of our member organizations celebrated World Sight Day 2024 below.
WCO Country Members
Association of Malaysian Optometrists
WORLD SIGHT DAY 2024
The Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) proudly extends warm greetings to optometrists worldwide on this special occasion. Your passion and dedication in safeguarding eye health play a pivotal role in the global fight against vision impairment and blindness. As we unite to celebrate World Sight Day 2024, let us reaffirm our shared mission: raising awareness about the importance of eye care and delivering the highest standard of vision care to our communities. By working together, we can ensure that everyone has access to the clear vision they deserve, improving the quality of life for all. We thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in eye care. Let’s make this World Sight Day not only impactful but truly life-changing for those we serve. Together, let’s make a difference!
WORLD SIGHT DAY 2024 SEMINAR, ADVANCING CLINICAL EXCELLENCE IN MYOPIA MANAGEMENT: INNOVATIONS, STRATEGIES, AND BEST PRACTICES
This seminar is dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and skills of eye care professionals. It will explore the latest innovations in myopia management, provide strategic approaches, and share best practices to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Participants will gain insights from leading experts in the field and engage in discussions that will elevate their clinical practice to new heights.
WORLD SIGHT DAY 2024 Seminar: A New Era in Primary Eye Care Delivery by Malaysian Optometrists
Dr. Azrin Esmady Ariffin, President of the College of Optometrists, Malaysia, unveils groundbreaking strides in primary eye care at the recent World Sight Day 2024 Seminar. “At AMO, we are fulfilling our vision to set apart Primary Eye Care Optometrists from regular optical outlets. The launch of the ‘Garis Panduan Perkhidmatan Penjagaan Mata Primer oleh Optometris’ marks a significant step towards redefining the role of optometrists in Malaysia,” said Dr. Azrin. This initiative emphasizes the distinct role of Community Optometrists in providing enhanced eye health services, compared to traditional Kedai Cermin Mata. In line with this vision, AMO has introduced an “Enhanced Eye Health Care” training module, equipping optometrists with advanced skills to better serve their communities. To further strengthen the profession, AMO is working on a structured pathway for “Shared Care” through Credentialing & Privileging, fostering closer collaboration between optometrists and other healthcare providers. The establishment of the College of Optometrists solidifies a new dawn for the profession, creating a platform to advance professional standards and promote excellence in optometry.
Optometry Confederation of India
The Optometry Confederation of India (OCI), along with leading institutions and practitioners, marked World Sight Day 2024 with a nationwide eye screening initiative. The campaign targeted communities, screening underprivileged around 2,500 individuals across states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Bhopal, and Kolkata. Aloka Vision Program by Zeiss provided free spectacles to 600 beneficiaries. A special 3-day camp was held in a remote village in Nagaland, supported by OneSight Essilor India and OCI, where 300 individuals were screened.
OCI also hosted a Walkathon around Cubbon Park, Bangalore, in partnership with Zeiss India, Menicon India, supported by the Rotary Club, Lions club International Bangalore, Karnataka Optometry Association & Colleges of Optometry to raise awareness about myopia and children’s eye health, attracting over 400 participants.The event emphasized the rising rates of myopia, expected to impact nearly half of India’s population by 2050.
Pakistan Optometric Society
Pakistan Optometric Society celebrated World Sight Day 2024 by conducting a workshop for students of different universities in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan Optometric Society’s Patron, President and Finance Secretary spoke about the importance of celebrating this day and also the role of Optometrists in eye care service delivery. A model and poster competition was also held among the students of different institutions.
South African Optometric Association (SAOA)
October marked an important period for eye health as Eye Care Awareness Month (ECAM) took place from September 21 to October 18. This year, the South African Optometric Association (SAOA) embraced the theme set by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), which was “Love Your Eyes-Kids.”
Throughout this initiative, the SAOA organized six vision screenings paired with educational talks aimed at informing children about the importance of eye care. These events were particularly impactful, as three of the screenings provided spectacles to around 130 scholars who otherwise may not have access to vision correction resources.
WCO Affiliate Members
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry celebrated World Sight Day by giving a lecture about International Optometry and the World Council of Optometry (WCO). A class taught by Dr. Sandra Wang-Harris, who was a World Council of Optometry fellow in Kathmandu Nepal, decorated glasses for World Sight Day. As her class concluded, the students took photos wearing their creations in front of the building. Some glasses had optometry-related themes! The school’s clinical arm, UAB Eye Care, champions children’s access to care every day through the InfantSEE program, which provides free comprehensive eye exams to children 6-12 months old. An educational Instagram reel was created for patients to increase awareness about this invaluable opportunity.
University of Lahore’s Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences
The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at The University of Lahore successfully hosted World Sight Day on October 21, 2024, promoting eye health awareness and providing free eye care services to the community.
The event was meticulously planned and executed by the Chief Organizer and Advisors, who were part of the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences (DOVS) faculty. The event also featured a competition where groups of students were assigned different eye-related issues to discuss and present different models on various eye-related issues. After that, caps were distributed with the monogram of World Sight Day for a group photo session. Dr. Sandra Block, President of the World Council of Optometry (WCO), shed light on the vital issue of pediatric eye care, emphasizing its significance in promoting lifelong vision health.