Thursday, 13 October 2022, is International World Sight Day and this year’s theme is #LoveYourEyes. Here is all you should know about this exciting day!
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) annually hosts an Internation World Sight Day on the second Thursday of October. IAPB is the overarching alliance for the global eye health sector, with more than 150 organizations in over 100 countries working together for a world where everyone has universal access to eye care.
Staying true to the #LoveYourEyes theme, here are a few to tips to help out.
10 Tips to help you #LoveYourEyes
- Follow the 20/20/20 rule to give your eyes screen breaks – When using a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, to avoid eye strain and headaches.
- Spend time outside – Children should spend at least two hours a day outside. This also helps their eye development in a healthy way and helps them avoid developing nearsightedness.
- Wear sunglasses outside – Make sure your sunglasses offer UVA and UVB protection to prevent radiation from the sun damaging your eyes. See our informative blog to help with sunglass purchases here.
- Wear prescription glasses, if you need them – You should wear your prescription glasses to see clearly and prevent your eyes from having to work harder, which can lead to eye strain and headaches.
- Check your cosmetics to avoid eye infections – Check the expiry date on eye makeup and replace your brushes regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria that could cause eye infections.
- Exercise regularly – Doing regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure which can affect your sight.
- Eat a healthy diet – Eating a balanced diet ensures you have the vitamins and minerals that are essential for maintaining healthy eyes.
- Don’t smoke – Smoking increases your risk of developing serious eye conditions and permanent sight loss.
- Book an eye test to detect problems before they arise – An eye test can detect an eye condition even before it’s affected your eye sight, so even if you don’t think there’s anything wrong with your eyes, you should book a test.
- Prioritise your eyes, you need them to last all your life – Put reminder in your calender to have regular eye checks. You should have your eyes checked every 1-2 years.
There are a few ways YOU can help raise awareness on this World Sight Day.
By sharing the importance of having regular eye checkups with your family, friends and colleagues.
The IAPB have a World Sight Day Photo Competition for amateur and professional photographers! It’s an opportunity for photographers to demonstrate their skills and share with the world what they see and what it means to #LoveYourEyes. You can enter the competition here.
Get involved in World Sight Day by making a commitment to #LoveYourEyes. Pledge to have a sight test or care for your eyes and share on social media to encourage others do the same.