World Sight Day was first celebrated on the second Thursday of October in 2000.

Developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in concert with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), this global observance aims to shine a spotlight on the significance of eye health and vision care.

The day is a call to action to elevate awareness concerning vision impairment, including preventable blindness and other ocular conditions that can mar the quality of life for millions.

According to WHO data, approximately 2.2 billion people around the globe are affected by vision impairment, of which nearly half could have been prevented or are yet to be addressed. This poignant statistic crystallizes the imperative for events like World Sight Day.

The day serves as a harbinger of change, mobilizing public health agencies, NGOs, and the private sector to invest in scalable solutions. Initiatives like SPECS 3030 aim to eradicate avoidable blindness by the end of this decade.