World Sight Day 09

World Sight Day is a global initiative providing an opportunity to raise the profile of the causes of blindness and vision impairment and the preventative measures. It takes place on the second Thursday in October every year.

Helping Australians to see more clearly is the theme for World Sight Day 2009 and will focus on the need for all Australians to get their eyes tested regularly so that can save their sight as they age. World Sight Day will be launched by the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, who will get his eyes tested at Victorian Parliament House.

To draw attention to vision and eye health issues faced Australians, Vision 2020 Australia's members are undertaking activity Australia wide on World Sight Day.

Early detection is the key to protecting your sight as you age

More than 500,000 Australians over the age of 40 are vision impaired or blind and approximately 75 per cent of their conditions were preventable or treatable.¹

People aged 40 and over need to act now. They should have their eyes tested regularly, be vigilant if there are changes to their vision, see their eye health professional early and access support services as soon as it is necessary.

To learn more about blindness and vision impairment in Australia please visit our page on the Five main causes of blindness and vision impairment in Australia.

¹Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Vision problems among older Australians. Bulletin. Issue 27, July 2005.