This year, World Sight Day is celebrated on the 10th of October. It is an important reminder to keep our eyes healthy and is organised by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). Occurring annually on the second Thursday of October, this event raises awareness of the issues surrounding blindness and impaired vision. The IAPB’s #LoveYourEyes campaign draws attention to this. It teaches us to value and take care of our vision. Last year for World Sight Day, over 10 million people made a pledge to have an eye test.
How can I get involved with World Sight Day 2024?
The World Sight Day 2024 theme is ‘Love Your Eyes Kids’ and raises awareness of the importance of young people’s eye care. IAPB’s mission is to make eye care accessible and affordable for all children across the globe. They aim to inspire young people to love their eyes. If you have children, you can get involved by making a pledge to prioritise their eye health. Commit to taking your little ones to have their eyes tested by an eye care professional.
How can I safeguard my own sight?
The IAPB created the 4Ps as guidance and inspiration for people to make healthy lifestyle changes and gain fresh perspectives that can benefit the health of their eyes. So, what exactly are the 4Ps and what do they teach us? The 4Ps are — Prevent eye conditions, Protect your eyes, Preserve good vision and Prioritise your eye health. We will be exploring this in more detail. Keep reading to discover our recommendations, themed around the 4Ps created by the IAPB.
PREVENT
Enjoy a healthy lifestyle
One of the many easy ways you can stay on top of your eye care is by participating in daily exercise and eating a balanced diet. This can help prevent specific eye conditions. Consuming healthy food will ensure you have the vitamins and minerals that are key for maintaining your eye health. Namely, leafy green vegetables full of vitamins and citrus fruit high in vitamin C. You should also try to consume plenty of fish and vegetable oils rich in omegas and fatty acids. Other foods like vegetables, beans and legumes contain minerals like zinc and lutein which can also benefit you greatly.
As well as tucking into delicious, healthy meals you should also aim to enjoy frequent exercise. Venture outside for walks, go jogging or try yoga. These activities can help control high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Every one of these health problems can impact the function of your eyes and result in long-term diseases. It is essential to stay on top of your fitness and health in order to prevent certain conditions.
PROTECT
Ensure you have UV-protected eyewear
One key thing to remember is that it is crucial to ensure your eyewear comes with UVA/B protection. This will shield your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. If you are overexposed to UV rays, this can increase the risk of diseases like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Not only should you wear your prescription sunglasses in the summer, but it is also still extremely important that you protect your eyes from harmful UV rays year-round, even in the colder months. What most people aren’t aware of is that UV rays are far more prominent during the wintertime due to the sun’s lower position in the sky.
At Glasses Direct, we offer a selection of sophisticated lens options which you can choose to upgrade to in place of our free basic lenses. We highly recommend that you opt for one of our reliable lens packages, selecting from either Gold, Platinum, or Diamond. For many reasons, you will benefit greatly from their durability and efficiency, but they also all come with a special coating that blocks UV rays. Treat yourself to a pair of glasses that shield your eyes from the sun’s radiation and stay protected throughout the whole of the year.
Stay protected from blue light
It is also vital to take regular breaks from digital screens. Consider following the 20:20:20 rule, which suggests that every 20 minutes, you should focus your sight on something located 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can help prevent eye strain and headaches.
According to a 2024 article by Exploding Topics, the average worldwide internet user currently spends over 6-and-a-half hours online every day. This has increased by over 30 minutes since 2013. With this in mind, it is all the more important to wear protective lenses and take time away from your screen when using digital devices.
You’ll have the option to add BlueReflect™ lenses once you have selected your frames and the appropriate vision type. These filter out blue-violet light and increase your visual comfort. They are also scratch resistant and have an anti-reflection coating that reduces glare.
PRESERVE
Book regular eye tests
Make it an important part of your lifestyle to ‘love your eyes’ and educate your friends and family about the importance of having their eyes checked.
Regular eye tests are paramount to preserving good vision. They will not only enable you to get the right prescription for your glasses, but they can help identify signs of any eye or other health conditions before symptoms even occur. Head to the optician and get your latest prescription, then shop online at a time that works for you with Glasses Direct.
To discover why and how frequently you should take an eye test, watch the video to learn more from our qualified optician.
PRIORITISE
Check your prescription is correct
You should make sure your prescription is up to date. If your last eye test occurred more than two years ago*, you will need to book a new one before purchasing glasses online. We recommend putting a reminder on your calendar or on your phone; that way you won’t forget.
If you do not currently have an up-to-date prescription, you can always opt to send it later via photo, email, phone, or post. After selecting your frames and lens options, simply click on ‘Send Prescription Later’.
To learn how to read your prescription, browse our informative guide for more information.
*Please be aware that the frequency of eye tests can vary depending on your age and personal health.
Why you should choose Glasses Direct
We hope our advice was helpful and a source of inspiration for you to “Love Your Eyes” this World Sight Day. We understand how important people’s vision is to their lives and care about giving everyone access to eye care services all over the world. That is why we support Vision For Life™’s Buy One, Give One scheme, which you can find out more about on our website.
At Glasses Direct, we provide our customers with professional service and care each step of the way. We urge you to follow our advice and protect your eyes this World Sight Day. If you wish to order glasses online, it couldn’t be simpler. Easily navigate our website to find exactly what you are looking for. Plus, you can rest assured that every order is signed off by our qualified opticians. Head to our website to explore our latest arrivals and find a fashionable design to suit you!
