LOCAL optometrists have joined a global campaign to celebrate World Sight Day.
Five local optometrists are among nearly 400 other optometry practices around Australia participating in a month-long global campaign, the World Sight Day Challenge, in an effort to end avoidable blindness.
The campaign is run by a global charity, Optometry Giving Sight.
Fund-raisers include $5 wristbands you can purchase and wear to show your support and a guess-how-many-jellybeans-there-are-in-the jar competition you can enter for one dollar.
“Children are especially vulnerable. Providing vision correction to a school-aged child can turn a life of poverty into a life of opportunity,” a spokesperson said.
“That’s why Optometry Giving Sight is helping to fund the solution. Since 2007, it has committed funding to support 67 sustainable eye and vision care projects in 38 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australia.
“These projects not only provide eye care to the needy, but train local people in the delivery of the services, contributing to long-term impact for their communities.”
The participating local optometrists are Eyecare Plus in William Street and Horton Street in Port Macquarie, Baker Payne and Webb, also in Port Macquarie, and Hanks and Cornale Eyecare and Baker Payne Webb, both in Wauchope.
