Week long Campaign to Create Awareness for Prevention of Blindness and Visual impairment : World Sight Day : 14th October 2010
The prime objective of World Sight Day, is to raise the level of awareness for need for eye care services among the general population. Besides refractive errors, early detection of several conditions like Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy are the key to prevent permanent visual loss.
- (1888PressRelease) October 14, 2010 - Week long Campaign to Create Awareness for Prevention of Blindness and Visual impairment : World Sight Day : 14th October 2010
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness, promoted by WHO, to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired. This year, ASCO, (Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry in India), is using this opportunity to create awareness among members of the common public to get their eyes tested, at their nearest opticians or optometrist, as a preventive measure. As per ASCO, opticians and optometrists, across the country will provide their best discount to customers who walk in for a eye check, as part of this week long awareness campaign. ASCO efforts are being supported by other NGOs and brands like OneSight, RayBan, Essilor, Bausch and Lomb. ASCO has also launched a social media campaign as part of its engagement efforts. The Social Media campaign encourages the members of the general public to undertake a pledge to test their eyes this 'World Sight Day', creates awareness about the extent of visual impairment in India and globally, it repurcussions, and corrective measures.
An estimated 456 million people of India's population of 1.12 billion people require vision correction (spectacles, contact lenses or refractive surgery) to be able to see and function for learning, work and life in general. Twenty six million people are blind or vision impaired due to eye disease. A further 133 million people, including 11 million children, are blind or vision impaired due to simply from lack of an eye examination and an appropriate pair of glasses (uncorrected refractive error).
Vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error causes serious disability and lost opportunities. The direct and indirect cost including lost productivity due to uncorrected refractive error in India has been estimated at $23 billion per year (and I$269 billion globally). Optometry as a profession has the primary public health responsibility for eliminating uncorrected refractive error.
A Delhi Declaration WAS ENDORSED by all stake holders of optometry in January 2010 which states that "optometrist commit to providing excellent vision care to all those who seek the service of an optometrist". This declaration was made possible through the support of International center of Eye care education ( ICEE) and the meeting was sponsored by the Australia India Council ( AIC). This declaration is histrorical and highlights the commitment of optometrist towards eradication of avoidable blindness.
Hence the prime objective of World Sight Day, is to raise the level of awareness for need for eye care services among the general population. Besides refractive errors, early detection of several conditions like Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy are the key to prevent permanent visual loss. Achievement of Millennium Development Goals have also been linked to poor vision and poverty and visual impairment are also directly proportional.
On the occasion of World Sight Day, we as "optometrist" appeal to all to visit your near eye care practitioner for your routine eye examination.
About ASCO : (www.asco-india.org) : is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to create awareness optometry as an independent profession in India. It works closely with Optometrist , Ophthalmologist & Ophthalmic profession, eye care centers, eye hospitals and Optical industry so that Optometry education and profession is benefited.
About OneSight : (www.onesight.org/asia) : a Luxottica Group Foundation, is a family of charitable vision care programs dedicated to improving vision through outreach, research and education. Since 1988, these charitable efforts have provided free vision care and eyewear to more than seven million people in need around the world and have granted millions of dollars towards optical research and education.
About ESSILOR INDIA: (www.essilorindia.com): is a 100% subsidiary of Essilor International. The Company through its excellent services, quality products and a wide network of distributors and franchise labs has been able to revolutionize the Indian ophthalmic lens market and cause a shift from the predominant glass lenses to the safer and more superior plastic lenses.
About Delhi Declaration: Adopted in a meeting of leading Optometric organizations of India. The meeting was supported by the International Centre for Eye Care Education and sponsored by Australia India Council for the establishment of Optometry as an Independent profession in India.
About BAUSCH AND LOMB (www.bausch.in/): Bausch & Lomb is the global eye health company, dedicated to help people see, look & feel better through innovative technology. B&L products are available in more than 100 countries around the world. Its core business includes soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. Bausch & Lomb SofLens® daily disposable lenses are the first and only daily disposables with High Definition™ Optics, - which facilitate exceptional vision all day, and especially in low light.
About RAY-BAN (www.ray-ban.com/india): is a manufacturer of sunglasses, a subsidiary of Luxottica Group. Ray-Ban includes seven main lines in their sunglasses collection. These are Families, Icons, Active lifestyle, High street, Fast and furious, Tech, and Craft.
Contact details : Press release issued on behalf of Mr Vivek Mendonsa (vivekm ( @ ) asco-india dot org) President, ASCO India, by Social Wavelength (www.socialwavelength.com). For any clarification please contact hareesh ( @ ) socialwavelength dot com.
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