Vision and Ageing Focus of World Sight Day

World Sight Day was held on Thursday 9th October and focussed on the impact of vision loss and blindness for people aged 40 years and over.

World Sight Day, is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and is part of the Vision 2020 initiative. It is celebrated annually on the second Thursday of October.

This year’s theme, ‘Eye on the future – vision and ageing,’ drew attention to the impacts of vision loss on individuals and the community. Older people with vision loss are less likely to work, more likely to suffer depression and have falls and die earlier.

The future theme also impresses the importance of good eye care, particularly in our early years.

Centre for Eye Research Australia Managing Director Professor Tien Wong called on people to use World Sight Day as a reminder, to have regular eye checks.

“There is a distinct link between vision and the ageing process.  I encourage people, especially those who are aged more than 40 years, to consult their eye health professional as soon as possible,” he said.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that more than 500,000 Australians over the age of 40 years are needlessly vision impaired or blind and that about 75 per cent of their conditions were preventable or treatable.

Centre for Eye Research Australia says people can protect their vision by:

• wearing sunglasses and hats in the sun
• quitting smoking
• wearing appropriate eye protection when working

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