World Sight Day: Did You Know? 4 Interesting Facts That Will Surprise You

World Sight Day is a day that brings awareness to different eye diseases and their effects on people’s lives. This is a day where we can all take the time to think about how our vision impacts us and those around us. We can accomplish a lot of tasks at once thanks to our eyesight. Everyone should be aware that seeing is a gift, not something you’re entitled to for the rest of your life. On this special day, it’s important to remember some of the key facts about the history of World Sight Day.

A Brief History of World Sight Day & Themes

The World Sight Day was first launched by the Lions Club International Foundation‘s SightFirstCampaign in 2000. It has since been observed on the second Thursday of October by people from all around the world. Currently, the World Sight Day campaign is run by Vision 2020 and it chooses a theme for each year. In 2019, the theme was “Vision First,” in 2020 it was “Hope in Sight,” and in 2021, it will be “Love Your Eyes.”

Eyesight is a Gift Needs to Be Cared For

At least 1 billion people worldwide have near or distance vision problems that might be prevented or have yet to be treated. Vision loss happens to people of all ages. Mostly it happens to people over the age of fifty. Blindness and visual impairment have a wide range of consequences, including altered personal activities such as cooking and washing, interaction with society, school and work opportunities, and access to public services.

Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors are the most common causes of visual impairment, in addition to being the number one cause of end-stage blindness. Although changes in the structure or function of an organ are not considered to be true diseases, other conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, viral eye diseases, and injuries to the eyes, must be treated.

The purpose of this event was to raise awareness about eye disease prevention, as well as to enhance public health education on eye care concerns. Many individuals are not aware that eye health is critical and that regular eye examinations are important. People in many nations are unable to obtain the proper eye treatment because of a lack of availability.

Fact #1 There are Over 100 Different Types of Eye Diseases

You must know the importance of early detection for preventing blindness. There are more than 100 eye diseases and if not treated may cause blindness. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends patients see an eye care professional every year or two, depending on their risk factors. This is not just for the elderly. It is also appropriate for children and teenagers. Your eyesight might be declining.

Fact #2 Your Eyesight is Up to 120 Degrees

Many incredible things may be found in the human body, which we still do not fully grasp. We can see up to 120 degrees with our two eyes. This is called the field of view. It may not seem like a lot, but it’s actually quite an impressive amount! The human eye works by capturing images and sending them through the optic nerve to the brain for processing. 

Fact #3 Even You Look at One Point, Your Eyes Still Move

The human eye is an amazing organ. It can detect light, convert it to electrical signals that the brain understands, and then process those signals into sight. Our eyes are always moving as they scan our surroundings rapidly. This motion, called a saccadic movement, helps us see more detail in what we look at because of how our eyes refocus on new objects every few milliseconds. Even if a person looks at one point, his eyes still move.

Fact #4 Assistive Technology for Eyesight Revolutionary

There are many assistive devices to help with your eyesight. OrCam MyEye is a state-of-the-art assistive technology that has been designed to help those suffering from blindness and low vision. The device is small enough to clip onto your glasses and use it everywhere you go without requiring any internet connection.

Hey OrCam: Speak with Your Reading Assistant

OrCam MyEye allows its user to be able to accurately read text, recognize faces, identify objects that are close or far away, and much more. The best part? With the recent update, you can speak with your OrCam MyEye to accomplish the tasks you want to do! Wake up your assistive device by saying “Hey, OrCam” and start reading newspapers, books, and more.