By: Dr. Ashley Brissette, MD MSc FRCSC ABO, Founder of Daily Practice
World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of eye health and vision care. It's a day when individuals, organizations, and healthcare professionals unite to shed light on preventable blindness and vision impairment worldwide. For me, World Sight Day holds deep personal significance, given Daily Practice’s mission to make eye care a part of everyone’s daily routine.
What Is World Sight Day?
World Sight Day is a day of advocacy and action. It serves as a reminder that vision is a precious gift, and access to quality eye care should be a fundamental right for everyone. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.1 billion people globally (⅛ of the world’s population) live with some form of vision impairment, and a significant portion of these cases can be prevented or treated with timely interventions. The day emphasizes the need for regular eye check-ups, early detection of eye conditions, and equitable access to eye care services.
World Sight Day: A Personal Meaning
For me, World Sight Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of eye care on a global scale. It's a day to reflect on the fact that 1 in 8 people around the world lives with vision impairment, which is often preventable or treatable.
Our Commitment: Making a Difference
For World Sight Day, Daily Practice is making a commitment that reflects our dedication to vision health. We pledge to donate $2 for each bottle of our product Eye Revive sold during this period to ORBIS, an organization that is particularly dear to me. I volunteered with ORBIS in both Peru and Vietnam during surgical missions, where I taught pediatric eye surgery and corneal transplants to doctors. This allowed me to witness the impact of vision restoration on individuals and communities. ORBIS focuses on responsible mission work with the aim to make communities self-sufficient by teaching local MDs, nurses and team members how to do surgery and vision care themselves.
Supporting Vision Care Charities: Our Ongoing Effort
Daily Practice's long-term charitable goals are rooted in creating a lasting impact on vision care. Our goal is to establish the Daily Practice Eye Care Foundation, dedicated to closing the gender gap in vision care. There are more women living with vision loss than men, and we are committed to raising awareness about gender-specific barriers to accessing healthcare. Through donations from sales of our eye care products, we will continue to provide funding to organizations like ORBIS and the ASCRS Foundation, supporting their efforts to combat preventable blindness and improve vision care worldwide.
The Impact of Vision Restoration: A Glimpse into a Brighter Future
Consider that every blind person takes two people away from their community, as they require assistance from a seeing person. Consider also that the majority of global vision loss is preventable or treatable, making it even more crucial to address this issue to help restore vision, in order to significantly improve lives to everyone affected.
How You Can Contribute to Vision Health: Daily Practices for Eye Care
By being mindful of the products you use in and around your eyes and choosing those formulated for the delicate eye area, like those created by Daily Practice, you're taking a proactive step toward maintaining optimal vision. You can also continue to educate yourself on this topic by visiting ORBIS.org, or even sending our team an email or message on Instagram.
Join Us in Celebrating World Sight Day
This World Sight Day, I invite you to be a part of our mission to promote eye health and prevent needless vision impairment. When you choose Daily Practice products, you're not only caring for your own eyes but also contributing to a brighter, more equitable future for vision care around the world. For every bottle sold, we'll donate $2 to ORBIS, and also give you $2 off.