World Sight Day, held each year in October, is an annual event to raise awareness of the importance of good eye care around the globe.

We know that 2.2. billion people – a quarter of the world’s population – have a visual impairment. And nearly half of this visual impairment could have been prevented, or could still be avoided.

Without urgent and sustainable efforts, the number of people who are blind could reach 115 million by 2050. But this isn’t inevitable.

Globally, $410 billion is lost in productivity each year because of visual impairment and blindness. But on average, across all of Sightsavers’ programmes in Africa and Asia, it costs just $3 to $5 for a pair of prescription glasses – a simple solution that has been proven to lead to a significant increase in potential earnings. This solution can change someone’s life.

If we are to tackle the global eye health crisis, everyone counts and everyone has a part to play. What’s yours?

The next World Sight Day will take place on Thursday 13 October 2022: join us to take action, help raise awareness and support Sightsavers’ work to combat avoidable blindness.