Aug. 21, 2024 — Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has launched its 2024 World Sight Day Challenge, an annual initiative that supports OGS’s mission of reducing uncorrected refractive error through the global expansion of optometry. This year’s theme, "Giving Together, Seeing Forever," aims to mobilize the eyecare community to provide essential eye care to those in need.

“The projects we support are almost entirely funded by individuals and businesses within the eyecare community,” says OGS executive director Lois Schoenbrun. “Dollars donated help deliver access to eye care for people of all ages where the need is greatest throughout the world.”

The World Sight Day Challenge will run from now through the end of October, with World Sight Day being observed on Thursday, Oct. 10. Participants can register here to lead fundraising efforts, while others can make donations here.

“Ending avoidable blindness and vision impairment is a cause that truly hits home and is tailor-made for optometry practice participation,” says Steve Rice, O.D., of Vision Clinic in Springfield, MO. The practice has participated in the challenge for nearly 20 years, the last 12 of them by sponsoring a 5K run. "After so many years of participating in the World Sight Day Challenge, the highlight of our participation is the pride in knowing that Vision Clinic, as a group and as individuals, is working to make a positive impact worldwide.”

Over the past 20 years, OGS has provided basic eye care to over 8 million people, trained more than 14,000 eyecare professionals, and established over 130 vision centers in 47 countries. The funds raised through the challenge are allocated to programs that establish optometry schools, vision centers, and optical labs in underserved communities. These initiatives also provide education and training for new optometrists, ensuring sustainable eyecare services.