World Sight Day 2024 to spotlight pediatric eye health

(Image Credit: AdobeStock)

Held on the second Thursday in October each year, World Sight Day focuses on the importance of prioritizing eye health for all.

The day is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) under the “Love Your Eyes” campaign banner of World Sight Day 2024 and is putting children at the center of the campaign.1 It is being held on October 10.

“IAPB has proven that when we work together, we create noise and an enthusiasm that is hard to ignore,” said Caroline Casey, president of IAPB. “Therefore, I am calling on everyone to work to ensure that children around the world have access to clear, healthy vision. We invite you to take ownership of the Love Your Eyes campaign, use our resources to be bold, have fun and create moments that cannot be overlooked.”

As part of the campaign, Love Your Eyes Global Partners, IAPB, and IAPB members are calling on parents, caregivers, and schools to pledge an eye test on behalf of a young person. A child’s pledge to #LoveYourEyes will make an impact on the individual, as well as raise awareness of the 450 million children globally who have a sight condition that needs treatment.

As part of the campaign, IAPB also has developed several opportunities to get involved in World Sight Day.

According to the news release, schools and organizations can take part in the Global Challenge by screening the vision of children; caregivers and parents on behalf of their children are invited to make a #LoveYourEyes pledge. Teachers also are asked to access World Sight Day resources that inspire children to take care of their eyes now, and long into the future.¹

World Sight Day mascot Artie (Image courtesy The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness)

A new addition to the campaign this year is a mascot called “Artie,” created to represent the Love Your Eyes logo. Another new element this year is the Glasses of the Future Competition, which creative children to color and invent the next generation of glasses. The competition calls for entries from around the world and will close on World Sight Day.²

“We introduced Artie and The Glasses of the Future Competition as fun ways to inspire children to look away from the screen and learn healthy habits that will protect their eyes for a long time,” Simon Darvill, director of Communications, Campaigns and Events for IAPB. “Our hope is that everyone with an interest in helping children see will adopt Artie in a way that supports their awareness and campaigning efforts. We would also love for businesses to invite the children that come through their waiting rooms to enter the competition and create some cool glasses.”

In 2023, the campaign’s theme was “Love Your Eyes at Work,” and IAPB together with the International Labor Organization will continue campaigning on the importance of prioritizing eye care in the workplace. 

World Sight Day is made possible with support from IAPB’s Love Your Eyes Global Partners, including Abbvie, Amgen, Bayer, CBM, CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson Vision, National Vision, Roche, Safilo, Seva Foundation, and Sightsavers. 

References:

1. World Sight Day 2024 to Prioritise Child Eye Health - The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Published August 16, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.iapb.org/news/world-sight-day-2024-to-prioritise-child-eye-health/

2. World Sight Day Inspires Sector to Focus on Child Eye Health - The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Published July 18, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.iapb.org/news/world-sight-day-inspires-sector-to-focus-on-child-eye-health/