Anne: World Sight Day October 14, 2021 Love Your Eyes
*The following blog is information not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your optometrist, ophthalmologist, or physician.
Hi Onyx+Ivy community! Thank you again for welcoming me back into your space! I am so happy to be back here to share with you that October 14, 2021 is World Sight Day.
It is an annual day of awareness to focus worldwide attention on vision impairment and blindness. This event is organized by The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
My name is Anne and I live with cone rod dystrophy, an inherited retinal disease, that was diagnosed in adulthood. For many years I had a “gut feeling” that something wasn’t quite right with my vision. I spent many years advocating and prioritizing my vision health to finally get my diagnosis.
The theme of World Sight Day 2021 is Love Your Eyes.
What can we do to love our eyes? There are 4P’s to Love Your Eyes:
Prevent - Our eyes can tell so much about our general health. There are some eye diseases that can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. (Ie. diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.) These diseases can lead to some eye diseases or vision problems like diabetic retinopathy. By eating healthy and adopting healthy habits like cutting down on smoking and drinking, getting plenty of rest and exercising you can help lower your risk.
Protect - Protect and take care of your eyes from severe sunlight by wearing sunglasses, workplace accidents by wearing protective eyewear, reduce screen time and reduce eyestrain. Cleaning out your cosmetics is also important too.
Preserve - Plan for and get regular comprehensive eye examinations. A single exam could detect other medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke risk as well as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other retinal disorders. Don’t ignore changes in your vision. Maintain ongoing treatment.
Prioritize - Prioritize taking care of your eyes. Educate your family, loved ones and community about the importance of eye health and vision.
Even though I have my diagnosis it’s still important for me to Prevent, Protect, Preserve and Prioritize my remaining vision. Regular examinations with my providers help keep track of any changes. I want to ensure that any other conditions are detected as soon as possible.
Another way to Love Your Eyes is by helping others to ensure a brighter future with volunteering or donating. Here are a few organizations that are marking World Sight Day:
Optometry Giving Sight. Click for World Sight 2021 Fundraising and Donation page.
Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centre. Find a collections center near you.
Orbis International, known for its Flying Eye Hospital, has been treating and preventing blindness for more than 35 years. Click for ways on how you can help.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing the love!
Anne
To be visually inspired to thrive, learn and grow
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