World Sight Day: Prioritize Your Eyes With These Tips From The IAPB

World Sight Day is an initiative of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). Every year it is celebrated on the second Thursday of October. This year’s celebration took place on October 13, 2022 with the theme: I pledge to prioritize my eyes.

This year, the IAPB focused on promoting the importance of eye care, calling on professionals in the sector and the general public to prioritize their eye health. The IAPB has a goal of getting 5 million eye tests pledged globally to help the whole world show love to their eyes.

Eye Care Tips From IAPB

Love your eyes and prioritize their health with these tips from IAPB:

• Follow the 20/20/20 rule to give your eyes screen breaks. When using a screen, set your eyes on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to avoid eye strain and headaches.
• Spend time outside. It is recommended that children spend at least two hours a day outside. This helps their eyes to develop in a healthy way and helps them avoid developing nearsightedness.
• Wear sunglasses outside. When you buy sunglasses, make sure they offer UVA and UVB protection to prevent radiation from the sun damaging your eyes.
• Check your cosmetics to avoid eye infections. Check the expiration dates on eye makeup and replace your brushes regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria that could cause eye infections.
• Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure which can affect your sight.
• Eat a healthy diet. Eating a balanced diet ensures you have the vitamins and minerals that are essential for maintaining healthy eyes.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk of developing serious eye conditions and permanent vision loss.
• Book an eye test to detect problems before they arise. An eye test can detect an eye condition even before it affects your eyesight. Even if you don’t think there’s anything wrong with your eyes, you should book a test to be certain.
• Prioritize your eyes – you need them to last all your life. Put reminders in your calendar to have regular eye checks. You should have your eyes checked every 1-2 years.

Will You Take the Pledge? We invite you to make a pledge to prioritize your eyes and help us spread the word to your loved ones so they can show love for their eyes too