As the industry gears up to celebrate World Optometry Week and World Optometry Day next week, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) today announced its latest campaign, ”Give Sight. Change Lives.” Through the effort, OGS seeks to raise awareness of its global impact and encourage donations that will enable the organization to continue supporting projects focused on long-term solutions.

During World Optometry Week, the campaign will feature results from several projects for which it has provided funding. Examples include a Liberian teacher who received his first-ever pair of glasses thanks to an integrated school eye health initiative led by EYElliance, as well as the Malawi School of Optometry, which was co-founded by OGS and last year received funding to purchase a much-needed vehicle to transport optometrists and students to work at various rural clinics.

“World Optometry Week encourages eye care professionals to help improve access to eye care globally and provide education and training for all optometrists, which is completely aligned with what we do every day,” said Lois Schoenbrun, CAE (Ret.), FAAO, OGS Executive Director, North America. “OGS is the only organization dedicated to eradicating uncorrected refractive error through the growth and expansion of optometry around the world. That work is made possible with funding almost entirely from eye care professionals, optometry practices, and companies working within this industry. We hope new and existing donors who are inspired to make a difference during World Optometry Week will consider doing so with us—OGS is for optometry, by optometry.”

To make a donation, visit givingsight.org/world-optometry-day.

Click HERE for the full press release.

This year, the World Council of Optometry (WCO) will celebrate World Optometry Week from March 19 – 25, and specifically World Optometry Day, Thursday, March 23, with the theme “Expanding Optometry’s Role… The Time is Now!”

WCO President, Associate Professor Peter Hendicott, said, “World Optometry Day provides an opportunity for optometry to reflect on its current and possible future roles in expanding access to quality and equitable eye care. This calls for optometry to consider our responsibilities and potential roles within health care delivery systems, to identify how we can make a maximal contribution to reducing the burden of eye disease and its impact. We need to ensure that optometrists worldwide possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and competencies to effectively move our profession forward to better serve our communities.”

With the theme “Expanding Optometry’s Role… The Time is Now!”, WCO seeks to advocate for stronger global access to eye care and ensure that optometrists around the globe have the education and skills to thrive and contribute within their respective healthcare systems.

Click HERE for the full press release.