World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October upon the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Sea-news.az reports that this date aims to draw global attention to the challenges of blindness, vision impairment, and the rehabilitation of individuals with visual disabilities. It serves as the flagship event for “Vision 2020: The Right to Sight,” a global initiative for blindness prevention established by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. This year’s theme is titled “Love Your Eyes.”
According to WHO data, approximately 2.2 billion people globally suffer from blindness or visual impairment, even though nearly half of these cases could have been prevented. Eye conditions affect more than 19 million children, while 82% of all visually impaired individuals are aged 50 and older. The primary causes of chronic blindness include cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, corneal opacity, trachoma, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
To preserve eye health, medical experts recommend quitting smoking, regularly consuming foods that strengthen retinal blood vessels (such as blueberries, blackcurrants, carrots, cod liver, and leafy greens), and reducing screen time on digital devices. Notably, August 8 is also celebrated annually as International Ophthalmology Day.
