WORLD SIGHT DAY THIS THURSDAY
October 8, 2013
Gippslanders should never take their eyesight for granted according to Federal Member for Gippsland and World Sight Day Champion, Darren Chester.
Mr Chester is urging local residents to book in for an eye test ahead of World Sight Day which will be held this Thursday, October 10.
World Sight Day was established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2000 and is the main advocacy event to raise awareness in the global effort to prevent avoidable blindness.
This year’s theme is universal eye health with a call to local residents to have their eyes tested. It also represents the launch of the new WHO action plan on the prevention of avoidable blindness and vision impairment.
Mr Chester said over half a million Australians aged over 40 are living with some form of vision loss, including 66,000 who are blind.
He said that without action, it is estimated that 1 million people could be vision impaired and 100,000 blind by 2020.
“Your eyesight is something that you should never take for granted,” Mr Chester said.
“People with vision loss are twice as likely to use health services and twice as likely to have an accidental fall.
“It is estimated that in Australia, 75 per cent of blindness and vision loss is preventable or treatable and the first step is to have your eyes tested by a registered professional.
“You need to always be proactive when it comes to your health and a simple eye test could save your sight.”
Anyone wishing to find out more about World Sight Day should log on to the official website at www.worldsightday.org.au