April 27, 2016
A group of vision industry leaders has announced a new global campaign to bring better vision and eye health to millions of children in need. Our Children’s Vision is a movement bringing together governments, development agencies, the private sector, eye health practitioners and communities with the goal of screening 50 million children worldwide for vision impairments by 2020.
Our Children’s Vision was initiated by the Brien Holden Vision Institute and the Vision for Life fund, created by Essilor. Both organizations share the mission of improving lives through better sight, and creating sustainable solutions to reach that goal.
Uncorrected vision can have a big impact on young people’s lives. “They can’t play outside safely, so they struggle to make friends. They can’t see the blackboard, so they struggle to learn. They are hindered in every aspect of their life, and it doesn’t stop at childhood,” says Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, chairman of the Vision For Life fund and chief corporate mission officer at Essilor International.
“We are potentially facing the biggest public health challenge of our generation,” says Professor Kovin Naidoo, CEO, Brien Holden Vision Institute and campaign director for Our Children’s Vision. “This trend can be slowed down through preventative or corrective care, but only if a child is reached while their eyes are still developing. An effective eye health program in schools would have an unprecedented impact. Our Children’s Vision is a global campaign designed to make this impact a reality.”
“We need to act now to help correct this global problem,” Professor Naidoo says, adding, “Our Children’s Vision is a call to action – to come together to ensure that effective, inclusive, sustainable eye health solutions are available to every child everywhere.”
Optometry Giving Sight is a global funding partner, along with leading sunglasses brand Revo, through the ‘Buy Vision Give Sight’ initiative. The campaign is endorsed by the World Council of Optometry and the International Council of Ophthalmology. To date, 34 international and national organizations have joined Our Children’s Vision.
