Prevent Blindness is joining the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) for World Sight Day on October 8, with activities that include vision screenings, educational programs, professional resources, and a new continuing education opportunity for optometrists, as well as continued advocacy in Congress.

For optometrists, Children’s Wisconsin will launch its new “Safeguarding Sight: Pediatric Optometry Lecture Series” on October 8. Sponsored by the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness (NCCVEH) and Prevent Blindness Wisconsin, the program is open to optometrists across the United States and will use case-based discussions and clinical insights to address care for young children. Registration is free, and participants can earn up to 1.5 continuing education credits.

NCCVEH is also continuing to offer a World Sight Day toolkit in partnership with the National Association of School Nurses. Designed for teachers, parents, school nurses, and staff, the toolkit includes downloadable bookmarks, stickers, and coloring pages.

Prevent Blindness is using World Sight Day to support the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act, H.R. 2527. The bipartisan bill, led by Congressional Vision Caucus co-chairs Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Marc A. Veasey, D-Texas, would establish a federal program that focuses specifically on children’s vision and eye health through coordinated systems of care. Prevent Blindness plans to coordinate an advocacy campaign to encourage partners to promote information about the legislation and contact members of Congress regarding sponsorship. More than 115 organizations currently support the legislation, according to a press release.

Additional activities will include Delta Gamma’s annual “Do Good Week” from October 8 to 15, which encompasses both World Sight Day and White Cane Awareness Day on October 15. Prevent Blindness affiliates and program partners will also provide eye health education and certified vision screenings in locations across the country.

“World Sight Day provides a tremendous opportunity for groups like ours and others around the world to work together toward the common goal of improving vision and eye health for all,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness, in the press release.