Introduction:
World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, was first celebrated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1998, to increase awareness of the importance of vision and to take the necessary measures to preserve the eye and protect it from injuries.
Facts:
- The geographical distribution of visual impairment is uneven in the world.
- 90% of blind people live in developing countries.
- The number of people with visual impairment was estimated at 285 million in 2010, of whom 39 million are blind.
- The Eastern Mediterranean Region, including the Gulf States, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accounts for 12.5% of the blindness rate worldwide.
Official Date:
Globally: October 10th, 2019.
Locally: Safar 11th, 1441H.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness about the importance of blindness prevention.
- Raise the level of health awareness of eye health and safety among all community members by means of highlighting common eye diseases, methods of treatment and prevention.
Theme of the World Sight Day:
"Vision First"