Dwyer & Ross Optometrists
266 Oxley Avenue
Margate, QLD 4019
Australia
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World Sight Day 2021
Take the pledge to #LoveYourEyes
Established by the World Health Organisation in 2020, World Sight Day focusses global attention on blindness and vision impairment. In Australia, the number of people living with vision loss is likely to almost double by 2030. As the population ages, the costs associated with this will skyrocket. We need to take action now. Everyone has the right to sight. It is so important to love your eyes and remind our loved ones to do the same.
This year’s theme is Love Your Eyes. Today we’re calling on you to show your eyes some love. While we have access to some of the best eye care in the world, eye health is not always seen as important.
This is what the World Health Organisation says:
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on vision impairment, including blindness. This year, World Sight Day will take place on October 14, 2021 with the theme: Love Your Eyes.
Globally, at least 1 billion people have near or distance vision impairment that could be prevented or has yet to be addressed. Vision impairment affects people of all ages, with the majority being over the age of 50. Vision impairment and blindness can have major and long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services.
Unoperated cataract and uncorrected refractive error are the leading causes of vision impairment. Other causes such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, infectious diseases of the eye, and trauma, however, cannot be ignored and need to be addressed.
Recently at the 74th World Health Assembly, Member States adopted two new global targets for eye care by 2030 ̶ a 40 per cent increase in effective coverage of refractive errors and a 30 per cent increase in effective coverage of cataract surgery. These targets will play a key role in not only increasing global eye care coverage in the future but also in delivering quality services.
Take the pledge in 2021 to #LoveYourEyes
- Have an eye test. Looking after your eyes, includes a routine eye test every two years or more often if you have an existing vision or health condition such as diabetes.
- Don’t ignore changes in your vision. 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable if identified early. This can be attributed to five main conditions – refractive error, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma.
- Maintain your ongoing treatment if you have an existing eye condition. If you are living with diabetes, make sure you continue to manage your health. For all of us, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regime is a great boost for your eye health.
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