Optometry Giving Sight has launched its 10th Annual fundraising campaign to help raise funds for people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired simply because they can’t access an eye exam and vision care provided by an optometrist.

This year’s World Sight Day Challenge will focus on the need for effective, sustainable eye health initiatives for children and adolescents. The campaign will run from September 1st until October 31st and will help support vision care services being delivered around the world. World Sight Day is Thursday, October 13th.

“All of us can appreciate the importance of good vision – not just for ourselves and our families, but for the many children around the world who don’t have access to the vision care services they need,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Aragon, Global Chair of Optometry Giving Sight. “After all, if you can’t see, you can’t learn, and that condemns many to a life of poverty and disadvantage.”

For the past 10 years, thousands of Optometrists, their staff, patients, students and colleagues in industry have all taken the World Sight Day Challenge by raising funds to help eliminate the backlog of uncorrected refractive error, estimated to affect more than 600 million people.

“It’s simple and fun to do,” said Clive Miller, Global CEO of Optometry Giving Sight. “Practices, schools and companies can involve their staff, friends, family and colleagues in fundraising activities throughout September and October; or they can visit our website and make a personal, practice or company donation. “We have materials to help promote your involvement, lots of fun fundraising ideas, and information that you can share that shows how your donations are having an impact on the lives of people in need.”

Funds raised will help support Our Children’s Vision – a global campaign to bring better vision, and eye health services to 50 million children by 2020. This will be in addition to our ongoing support for Optometry Development programs which train local people as Optometrists.

To donate, or pledge your participation by selecting one of our Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Award levels, please visit www.givingsight.org or call 888 OGS GIVE.