NEW YORK—Oct. 11, 2018 is World Sight Day, and everyone is getting ready, across the U.S., internationally, among ECPs, industry and sight-related organizations. 2018 marks the 12th year of the #World Sight Day Challenge, which asks everyone in the optical industry to step up and help people get access to vision care no matter who or where they are. To do this, many companies, doctors and employees all across the industry choose to participate in fundraisers or make a personal donation toward the vision care of those who cannot afford it.

These funds then go on to support projects that will help bring ECPs, glasses, and education to underserved communities all across the world. This year, Optometry Giving Sight has once again formed a coalition of companies making a commitment to the World Sight Day Challenge. This year’s coalition members include ABB Optical Group, Alcon Foundation, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Essilor of America, Eye Recommend, EyePromise, Vision Source, VSP Global, WestGroupe, and Carl Zeiss Vision, as well as many others, as VMAIL reported yesterday.

Other ECPs and eyecare companies are stepping up to take the challenge.


This year, Pearle Vision is teaming up with Billie Jean King to launch the #RaiseYourGlasses campaign, which they hope will empower people to celebrate proper eyecare. The campaign encourages social media interaction, which will help raise awareness both of World Sight Day and the importance of proper vision care. Everyone is encouraged to share an image of themselves wearing either their first or favorite pair of prescription glasses to social media with the hashtag #RaiseYourGlasses. For every 10 photos shared, Pearle Vision will donate a new pair of prescription glasses to a child in need.

OneSight and Luxottica are also teaming up this World Sight Day. Nonprofit OneSight announced the launch of its World Sight Day of Service, an initiative in which thousands of Luxottica employees will take part. Events for OneSight’s World Sight Day of Service are slated to take place across 10 countries. The events, which include Luxottica’s retail brands opening their doors for free eye exams and glasses for those in need, aim to help a range of populations from students to prison inmates to refugees.

In addition to opening up retail store doors, OneSight will host vision clinics across the world. These clinics will provide vision screening and glasses as needed to underserved communities in Australia, China, Gambia, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Rwanda, Zambia, and the U.S., among others.

ForEyes is also celebrating World Sight Day 2018. Because 75 percent of vision impairments are avoidable, the optical retail company is using the day to promote preventative eye health. From Oct, 5 through 11, ForEyes is offering varied discounts and giveaways, all of which are dependent on state.

This is just a sampling of what companies across the optical industry are planning for World Sight Day 2018. VMAIL will keep you updated as others roll out their World Sight Day celebrations. If you have any special events planned at your company, practice or optical shop, please send an email to jwilson@jobson.com or gplummer@jobson.com.