Everyone has the right to quality, affordable eye care. Having the privilege of sight gives people dignity and improves their lives. A number of organisations have made it a priority to ensure that all individuals and communities world-wide get the eye care they need.
In this blog, we will explore some of the amazing global interventions and programmes that are changing people’s lives by giving them the privilege of sight.
WHO 2030 global eye care targets
The World Health Organisation (WHO) 2030 global eye care targets, includes eradicating blindness that is caused by uncorrected refractive errors.
Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. In at least 1 billion (almost half) of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed.
The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts. Refractive errors such as distance impairment (myopia and hypermetropia) or near vision impairment (presbyopia) can be easily addressed with the right pair of spectacles. Blindness due to cataracts can be corrected through cataract surgery.
These are among the most cost-effective and feasible health interventions available. However, the ability to provide quality services, especially in underserved communities, remains the biggest challenge. The WHO pursues integrated, people-centred eye care by working closely with various governments, civil society and international organisations to find innovative ways to address the world’s eye care needs.
Read more about the WHO’s eye care interventions here:
2030 in Sight: ending avoidable sight loss
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is the overarching alliance for the global eye health sector, with more than 150 organisations in over 100 countries working together for a world where everyone has universal access to eye care.
Driven by the IAPB, 2030 in Sight is the eye care sector's strategy for ending avoidable blindness. It is a call to action to make vision a fundamental, economic, social and development issue, integrate eye health in wider health care systems, and drive patient, consumer and market change.
The aim of the 2030 in Sight initiative is that, by 2030:
· No-one experiences unnecessary or preventable sight loss and everyone can achieve their full potential.
· Eye care and rehabilitation services are accessible, inclusive and affordable to everyone, everywhere, whenever they are needed.
· People understand the importance of caring for their own eye health and demand access to services, free from the weight of any social stigma.
Find out more about the 2030 in Sight interventions:
OneSight – changing lives through good vision
According to the The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, uncorrected poor vision affects 1 in 3 people around the world. The overwhelming majority of these people live in developing communities where there is limited access to vision care and awareness of vision issues.
OneSight aims to eliminate uncorrected poor vision by creating sustainable access to vision care, free eye exams and glasses across the world for those most in need. They also fund local vision care programmes and raise awareness of poor vision among policy makers and at a community level.
Read more about OneSight’s work here:
Book an appointment with us
At Tomlinson Optometrists we are passionate about providing quality, affordable eye care to everyone. In the month of August, we are offering a special “Privilege of Sight” rate for persons who would otherwise not be able to afford an eye examination or glasses.
The cost of R350 per person includes an eye examination and, depending on the assessment, a frame and single vision or bifocal lenses. Appointments are available on Friday mornings from 08:00 to 12:00. The “Privilege of Sight” offer is subject to availability and while stocks last.
Get in touch with us on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/TomlinsonOptometristsWhatsApp
Book an appointment online: https://bit.ly/tomlinsonbookinglink
Phone 021 797 7291, email kenilworth@visualcare.co or visit us at 278B Main Road, Kenilworth.
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