Author: Emma Alvarez Gibson

Le 28 juillet 2026

Optometry Giving Sight lance le Défi de la Journée mondiale de la vue 2026 et invite la communauté des soins oculaires à amasser des fonds pour améliorer l’accès aux soins de la vue à l’échelle mondiale.

La campagne annuelle de collecte de fonds, qui s’échelonne sur deux mois, reprend le 1er septembre avec un nouveau tableau de classement, des concours bonifiés et un thème rassembleur : « Ce n’est pas seulement une question de vue. C’est tout un avenir. »

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) a annoncé aujourd’hui le lancement du Défi de la Journée mondiale de la vue 2026, sa campagne annuelle de collecte de fonds.  Celle-ci rassemble des cliniques d’optométrie, des écoles d’optométrie, des partenaires de l’industrie et des sympathisants partout en Amérique du Nord et ailleurs dans le monde afin de financer des programmes durables de soins de la vue. Le Défi se déroulera du 1er septembre au 31 octobre 2026.

Cette année marque la 20e édition du Défi de la Journée mondiale de la vue, l’un des événements de collecte de fonds les plus attendus de la profession optométrique. Pendant 61 jours, des cliniques et des écoles optométrie et des particuliers rivalisent pour amasser des fonds qui soutiennent directement les programmes financés par OGS. Ces programmes offrent des examens de la vue, des lunettes et de la formation en optométrie à des communautés qui n’ont jamais eu accès à des soins de la vue.

Le thème de cette année, « Ce n’est pas seulement une question de vue. C’est tout un avenir. », traduit l’impact transformateur des soins oculaires primaires sur la vie des personnes et des communautés partout dans le monde. Pour un enfant incapable de voir le tableau à l’école, un agriculteur dont le gagne-pain dépend de travaux minutieux ou une enseignante qui souhaite continuer à exercer sa profession, l’accès à un examen de la vue et à une paire de lunettes peut tout changer.

« Le Défi de la Journée mondiale de la vue est l’une des expressions les plus puissantes de ce que la communauté optométrique peut accomplir lorsqu’elle unit ses forces », a déclaré Donna Mikulecky, directrice générale d’Optometry Giving Sight. Chaque année, des gens partout dans le monde lèvent la main et affirment : nous croyons que les soins de la vue devraient être accessibles à tous, et pas seulement à ceux qui ont les moyens de se les payer. Cette année, nous rendons la participation à ce Défi plus facile et plus stimulante que jamais.

Quoi de neuf en 2026

Le Défi de la Journée mondiale de la vue 2026 introduit plusieurs nouveautés conçues pour stimuler la participation et l’engagement :

• Un tableau de classement en direct, mis à jour tout au long de la campagne, offrant aux participants une visibilité en temps réel sur leur position et les motivant à se surpasser.
• Des concours élargis, dont le Défi du classement, la Folie des egoportraits, le Bingo des réseaux sociaux, Etoile montante, et Recrue de l’année — avec des prix pour les meilleurs participants, tant dans la catégorie des cliniques que dans celle des écoles
• Une trousse numérique renouvelée, offrant aux cliniques et aux écoles tout ce dont elles ont besoin pour mener leur campagne, notamment des outils pour les réseaux sociaux, des modèles de courriels destinés aux patients, des affichettes de comptoir et des guides de collecte de fonds

Comment participer

La participation est ouverte aux cliniques et aux écoles d’optométrie, aux partenaires de l’industrie et aux sympathisants individuels du monde entier. L’inscription est gratuite et ne prend que quelques minutes à l’adresse givingsight.org/wsdc-registration. Les participants peuvent choisir parmi un éventail de méthodes de collecte de fonds, qu’il s’agisse de consacrer les frais d’examen d’une journée ou d’organiser un événement communautaire, avec tous les détails et les ressources offerts dans une nouvelle trousse numérique.

Les fonds doivent être soumis au plus tard le 30 novembre 2026.

À propos du Défi de la Journée mondiale de la vue

Le Défi de la Journée mondiale de la vue est une campagne annuelle de collecte de fonds organisée par Optometry Giving Sight, qui coïncide avec la Journée mondiale de la vue — soulignée à l’échelle internationale le deuxième jeudi d’octobre. Le Défi permet d’amasser des fonds pour les programmes financés par OGS, lesquels forment des professionnels locaux des soins oculaires, mettent sur pied des centres de vision et des écoles d’optométrie, et offrent des examens de la vue et des lunettes aux communautés mal desservies du monde entier.

À propos d’Optometry Giving Sight

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) recueille des fonds au sein de la communauté optométrique afin de soutenir des programmes visant à mettre fin à la cécité et à la déficience visuelle évitables dans le monde. En offrant à la fois des soins oculaires immédiats et structurants, tout en bâtissant l’infrastructure durable nécessaire pour élargir l’accès aux soins à long terme, OGS permet aux communautés de s’épanouir. Au cours des 20 dernières années, le financement d’OGS a permis d’offrir des soins oculaires primaires à plus de 15 millions de personnes, de contribuer à la formation de plus de 14 000 professionnels et de mettre sur pied plus de 200 centres de vision dans plus de 70 pays.

Pour en savoir plus, visitez givingsight.org.

Personne-ressource pour les médias :

Emma Alvarez Gibson
Directrice du marketing et des communications
Optometry Giving Sight
emma.alvarezgibson@givingsight.org

July 28, 2026

Optometry Giving Sight Launches 2026 World Sight Day Challenge, Calling on Eye Care Community to Raise Funds for Global Vision Access

Annual two-month fundraising campaign returns September 1 with new leaderboard, expanded contests, and a rallying theme: “It’s not just sight. It’s an entire future.”

Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) today announced the launch of the 2026 World Sight Day Challenge (WSDC), its annual fundraising campaign bringing together optometry practices, optometry schools, industry partners, and supporters across North America and beyond to raise funds for sustainable vision care programs worldwide. The Challenge runs September 1 through October 31, 2026.

Now in its 20th year, the World Sight Day Challenge is one of the optometry profession’s most anticipated fundraising events — a sixty-one day window in which practices, schools, and individuals compete to raise funds that directly support OGS-funded programs delivering eye exams, glasses, and optometry training to communities that have never had access to vision care.

This year’s campaign theme — It’s not just sight. It’s an entire future. — reflects the transformative impact of basic eye care on the lives of individuals and communities worldwide. For a child who cannot see the board at school, a farmer whose livelihood depends on close work, or a teacher who wants to stay in her classroom, access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses can change everything.

“The World Sight Day Challenge is one of the most powerful expressions of what the optometry community can accomplish when it comes together,” said OGS Executive Director Donna Mikulecky. “Every year, people around the globe raise their hands and say: We believe vision care should be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it. This year, we’re making it easier and more exciting than ever to be part of that.”

What’s New in 2026

The 2026 World Sight Day Challenge introduces several new features designed to drive participation and engagement:

• A live practice leaderboard, updated throughout the campaign, giving participants real-time visibility into standings and motivating practices to push for their personal best
• Expanded contests, including the Leaderboard Challenge, Selfie Madness, Social Media Bingo, Rising Star, and Rookie of the Year — with prizes for top performers in both practice and school categories
• A refreshed digital toolkit, providing practices and schools with everything they need to run their campaign, including social media assets, patient email templates, counter cards, and fundraising guides

How to Participate
Participation is open to optometry practices, optometry schools, industry partners, and individual supporters worldwide. Registration is free and takes minutes at givingsight.org/wsdc-registration. Participants can choose from a range of fundraising methods — from designating one day’s exam fees to running community events — with full details and resources available via a new digital toolkit.
Funds must be submitted by November 30, 2026.

About the World Sight Day Challenge
The World Sight Day Challenge is an annual fundraising campaign run by OGS, timed to coincide with World Sight Day — observed globally on the second Thursday of October. The Challenge raises funds for OGS-funded programs that train local eye care providers, establish vision centers and optometry schools, and deliver eye exams and glasses to underserved communities worldwide.

About Optometry Giving Sight
Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) raises funds from the optometric community to support programs that end preventable blindness and vision impairment worldwide. By offering immediate eye care and building the sustainable infrastructure needed to expand permanent access, OGS empowers communities to thrive. Over the last 20 years, OGS funding has provided primary eye care services to more than 15 million people, assisted in training over 14,000 professionals, and established more than 200 vision centers in over 70 countries.

For more information, visit givingsight.org.

Media Contact:
Emma Alvarez Gibson
Director of Marketing and Communications
Optometry Giving Sight
emma.alvarezgibson@givingsight.org

Building eyecare from the inside out

Grantees: Charis Vision and Health Mission

Each year, donations to Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) enable us to issue grants to fund projects globally that provide immediate eye care to those in need today, and expand optometry so vision care is available for years to come.

Optometry Giving Sight awarded a grant to Charis Vision and Health Mission, in partnership with Arthur Jarvis University, to strengthen optometry education and expand access to eye care in Akpabuyo, Cross River State, Nigeria. The project equips the University’s optometry clinic with modern diagnostic technology, supports student training through hands-on clinical experience, and brings eye care directly to communities that have had little access to it.

In its first year, the project has moved quickly from setup to impact. Nearly 400 people have been screened across campus, local markets, and community health centres — 77 of whom received free glasses, and 59 of whom were referred for further treatment including cataract and pterygium surgery. Optometry students have been central to every step, conducting screenings and community outreach under the supervision of senior lecturers. On World Glaucoma Week, they visited a busy local market to educate traders and residents on the dangers of a disease that takes sight without warning. On World Optometry Day, three students represented the project in a live radio broadcast reaching audiences across Calabar and beyond.

The clinic is now fully operational, with a dedicated power supply ensuring uninterrupted care. A permanent plaque at the entrance acknowledges OGS as the funding partner — a small detail that speaks to something larger: the beginning of a lasting institution.

By investing in this life-changing work, we are helping to build a future where quality eye care is not a one-time gift, but a lasting, local reality that the community owns and sustains. Your donations make a difference now and into the future.

leading the conversation. expanding the mission.

Fluorescene Group is a leading digital advocacy partner and a catalyst for progress within the eye care industry. As the parent organization behind some of optometry’s most engaged online communities, Fluorescene Group bridges the gap between eye care professionals and leading brands to drive innovation and foster meaningful collaboration.

At the heart of their mission is a commitment to lead the online discourse in eye care with scientific rigor and compassion. Their flagship platform, ODs on Technology, serves as a premier learning and news portal. It functions as the dedicated “tech-forward” sister site to the world-renowned ODs on Facebook group, expanding that community’s reach into deep-dive technical education.

Through the ODs on Technology ecosystem, members gain access to several distinct “innovation zones” tailored to the evolving needs of the profession:

•     Deep Learning: Where experts go deep on the ideas reshaping eye care and health technology, emphasizing that human intelligence remains the driver behind AI.
•     Mic Input: The home of Eye. Talk. Tech., an eye tech education podcast series that brings subject matter experts and real conversations to the intersection of eye care and technology.
•     Early Access: Exclusive previews of tools and platforms—from quantum computing to AGI—tested before they move into the mainstream.
•     Proof of Concept: A dedicated space where innovation is validated through clinical pilots, early adopters, and real-world results.
•     Radar Feed: Real-time future signals and tech trends, from robotic-assisted surgery to the latest FDA frameworks on AI software.
•     Plug & Play <pnp>: Action-oriented, straightforward resources focused on solving real-world clinical problems fast.

Fluorescene Group is powered by Dr. Alan Glazier, an optometric thought leader and an eye care industry expert who believes that technology is fundamentally transforming the profession. Their support of Optometry Giving Sight ensures that as the industry evolves, the global mission to eliminate preventable blindness remains at the forefront of digital innovation.

“At Fluorescene, we bring together real clinical insight, emerging technology, and authentic peer-to-peer conversation,” said CEO Nicole Skibinski. “Our commitment is to elevate the profession while ensuring that progress in technology continues to serve both the clinician and the global mission of improving vision care.”

We extend our sincere thanks to Fluorescene Group for their partnership and shared commitment to clinical excellence, practice growth, and our global mission to provide the gift of sight to those in need.

For the team at Hillsboro Vision Clinic, supporting Optometry Giving Sight isn’t a once-a-year gesture — it’s woven into how they do business. Dr. Drew Perry gives monthly, contributes quarterly through PECAA, and in 2025 was one of OGS’s largest World Sight Day Challenge donors, raising funds through a clinic day dedicated entirely to giving back.

This year, the team hosted a sunglass raffle featuring donated frames from Nike, Longchamp, Zeal, and Ray-Ban — and sweet treats courtesy of one of their own patients. It was a community effort in the truest sense.

Office Manager Krystle Goff put it simply: “If we could reach across the world to help people find hope in regaining sight by providing much needed eye care and glasses, we most certainly would — but OGS is the closest to that we can get, and it’s an honor to be a part of such a wonderful foundation.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Thank you, Dr. Perry, Krystle, and the entire Hillsboro Vision Clinic team for your extraordinary generosity and your big hearts.

March 12, 2026 | Articles, News

GOLDEN, Colo. and CALGARY, Alta.—Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), a global organization dedicated to ending preventable blindness, today announced the appointment of Karen Walsh, Senior Director of Global Professional Affairs at CooperVision, to its Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled that Karen is joining the team,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Aragón, OGS Board President. “Her deep-rooted commitment to advancing global eye health and her extensive experience in clinical education make her an invaluable asset to our leadership. Having seen her passion for sustainable eye care firsthand through our long-standing partnership with CooperVision, we know she will play a pivotal role in helping us unlock the potential of underserved communities through the gift of sight.”

In her role at CooperVision, Walsh leads the company’s Global Professional Affairs organization, working closely with international teams to support eye care professionals through education and collaboration. Prior to joining CooperVision in 2021, she built a distinguished career as an educator, researcher, and author at the Centre for Ocular Research and Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo.

“Joining the board of Optometry Giving Sight is a natural extension of my work to support eye care professionals and expand access to care,” said Walsh. “I have long admired OGS for its focus on building permanent infrastructure and training local personnel—creating a world where vision care is a right, not a luxury. I look forward to working with this esteemed board to continue building a future where everyone has the opportunity to see clearly.”

Walsh joins an already distinguished Optometry Giving Sight Board, which includes Dr. Juan Carlos Aragón, Dr. Susan Cooper, Dr. Luigi Bilotto, Dr. John Flanagan, Dr. Millicent Knight, Dr. Paul Karpecki, Tony Sommer, and Dr. Meng Xu.

Optometry Giving Sight raises funds from the optometric community to support programs that end preventable blindness and vision impairment worldwide. By offering immediate eye care and building the sustainable infrastructure needed to expand permanent access, OGS empowers communities to thrive. Over the last 20 years, OGS funding has provided basic eye care services to more than 15 million people, assisted in training over 14,000 eye care personnel, and established more than 200 vision centers in over 70 countries.

Learn more at givingsight.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Emma Alvarez Gibson
+1 310-721-5177
emma.alvarezgibson@givingsight.org