Optometry Giving Sight’s (OGS’s) 2018 World Sight Day Challenge raised enough funds to deliver eye exams and glasses to over 190,000 people in need of eye care.

Over 160 companies and over 360 optometry practices around the world took part in the challenge, raising over US$970,000.

“Every World Sight Day Challenge, we’re blown away by the generosity and loyalty of our supporters. We’re thankful for each one: from the large companies generously donating to the small practices passionately fundraising,” said OGS’s global director of development, Leigh Cleave. “It only takes $5 to provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses to a child or adult in need, so we meant it when we say ‘every little bit counts’.”

The World Sight Day Challenge encourages the optometric community to donate and fundraise towards much-needed sustainable eye care projects overseas. Companies, practices, optometrists and students joined together to hold bake sales, auctions, guessing competitions, talent shows, running events and walkathons, and to get patients, employees and customers involved. Longstanding Optometry Giving Sight supporter, CooperVision, had a record-breaking year with over 40 global CooperVision sites and teams participating and employee contributions up by more than 35 percent year-over-year, supported by a matching commitment from the company. 2018 took CooperVision’s cumulative World Sight Day Challenge donations over the $1 million mark. “Our record-breaking 2018 World Sight Day Challenge donation represents approximately 52,000 eye exams for people around the world who could otherwise be at risk of a range of vision challenges,” said CooperVision president, Dan McBride.

Over $220,000 was donated by Vision Source members and doctors, vendors, staff, family members and friends as part of their annual commitment to Optometry Giving Sight. “I never cease to be amazed by the selfless generosity of the Vision Source family; we are proud to partners with Optometry Giving Sight as Vision Source’s international charity of choice,” said Vision Source CEO, Jim Greenwood.

In Canada, Westgroupe’s social media campaign #WithoutMySight, inspired by Hani, a former Syrian refugee who is legally blind, challenged participants to complete an everyday task blindfold.

Closer to home, Bausch + Lomb Australia added an extra dose of sustainability to their support, donating $1 for every kilogram of contact lens waste sent to TerraCycle. The recycling programme aims to divert contact lenses and blister packs from landfill, turning plastic components into recycled materials.