The message for this year's World Sight Day, 2013 (Thursday, 10th October) is simple: Get your eyes tested.
Many of us take our sight for granted – but it is important to get regular check ups.
Did you know?
- Around 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness;
- An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are 6 times more likely than other Australians to go blind;
- 94% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s vision loss is preventable or treatable;
- Refractive error accounts for 54% of low vision and 14% blindness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait adults. Refractive error can be diagnosed during an eye examination and treated with corrective glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery;
- Restoration of sight and blindness prevention are among the most cost effective health interventions known.
The World Health Organization has adopted the goal to reduce avoidable blindness by 25 per cent by 2019 from a 2010 baseline.
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