Around 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness. After cataract, refractive error –the need for glasses- is the leading cause of blindness among all age groups, and is also the leading cause of visual impairment. These images are released today to celebrate World Sight Day (October 13 2016) by charity Sightsavers to raise awareness about blindness and visual impairment around the world and the work being done to help the people affected.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 13 million children aged five to 15 years worldwide are visually impaired from uncorrected refractive error.
Around 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness. After cataract, refractive error –the need for glasses- is the leading cause of blindness among all age groups, and is also the leading cause of visual impairment. These images are released today to celebrate World Sight Day (October 13 2016) by charity Sightsavers to raise awareness about blindness and visual impairment around the world and the work being done to help the people affected.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 13 million children aged five to 15 years worldwide are visually impaired from uncorrected refractive error.
Properly fitted glasses cost less than $5 a pair, but many children in low income countries don’t have access to reliable and affordable health services.
Uncorrected refractive error can severely limit their ability to learn and develop in school and as individuals.
Throughout this month, teachers in Senegal, Ethiopia and Ghana are carrying out eye tests to tackle this problem directly. By the end of next month (November), they will have reached over 30,000 school children in total across Africa.
Today’s images capture this initiative being rolled out in Siem Reap, Cambodia earlier this year. Within just 3 weeks in August, teachers in Siem Reap carried out eye tests on over 12,000 school children across 48 schools and glasses were given to every child who needed a pair.
This simple and cost effective scheme is being led by the governments of these countries who are supported by Sightsavers and the Partnership for Child Development (PCD).
For additional information: http://www.sightsaversusa.org/initiative-to-strengthen-school-health-launched/
12 October 2016
