To support its mission to eradicate uncorrected refractive error through the growth and expansion of optometry around the world, Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) has issued its 2025 World Sight Day Challenge. Held in conjunction with World Sight Day, the Challenge will take place from September 1 through October 31. World Sight Day is celebrated on October 9.
During the Challenge, optometry practices, optometry student groups, and optometry-related businesses raise funds for OGS to support the organization’s annual grant program. Since its inception, OGS has awarded more than $8 million in grants for programs that have provided vision care for more than 15 million people worldwide.
Challenge participants can choose to sponsor fundraising activities at their offices, schools, and companies and may include activities such as raffles, bake sales, fun runs, office contests, and other activities that can involve patients, colleagues, and the community. Other options include hosting an online fundraiser or simply making a donation.
This year, optometry practices and optometry student groups can compete to win our new Facebook Thumbs-Up Throwdown or highest contributor contest, both sponsored by Dr. Greg Pearl.
“The World Sight Day Challenge is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” says OGS Executive Director Donna J. Mikulecky. “This time of the year, in particular, we see the entire optometry community come together to support the dire need for access to eyecare where it is most needed.
“More than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from vision impairment and blindness simply because they don’t have access to eye exams and eyeglasses,” she adds. “The programs we fund provide exams and glasses, but also fund the establishment and development of the optometry profession, so that eye care is available today and well into the future.”
To date, OGS has helped establish 14 optometry schools, built 130 vision centers, trained more than 14,000 optometry professionals. In all, OGS’s work has impacted more than 15 million people in over 50 countries.
“Our impact continues to grow each year,” Mikulecky says, “But, so does the need. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness projects that the number of people suffering vision loss will increase to 1.7 billion people by 2050 unless we invest significantly in vision care.
“We’re fortunate that so many others in the optometry profession want to participate in creating lasting change,” she adds. “And, we are very grateful for their support. The problem we are all trying to address is huge in scope. But, together, we’re making a difference.”
Those interested in participating in the 2025 World Sight Day Challenge can register or learn more at givingsight.org/wsdc.
At the time, most efforts to address URE focused on optometrist-led mission trips to areas with no access to eye care. “While these initiatives provided valuable one-time eye exams and eyeglasses to people in need, they lacked long-term, sustainable solutions to the ongoing need for primary eye care,” says Aragon. “Brien, along with BHVI, WCO and IAPB leadership, recognized that the root cause of URE was the lack of optometry professionals and infrastructure to support optometry in developing countries,” says Aragon. “So, they established Optometry Giving Sight as a fundraising entity to support global projects that provide education and clinical training for optometrists, ensuring they can deliver care both now and in the future. Brien’s vision was to invest in education and infrastructure that would build optometry and create lasting change.”
In a context marked by trying situations for the population, a Haitian association known by the acronym AHDH (Haitian Association for Human Development) operating from the United States has launched an appeal, a request for volunteering for a mobile eye clinic. A group of optometry students from the School of Optometry of the State University of Haiti responded to this request. From November 18 to 23, 2024, there were 5 of them: Kimberly Alexandre O5, Leandro Thezard O4, James Hugson Luxana O4, Romekyle Georges O3, Jensen Petidor O3. With the organisation’s professionals understaffed following the halt of flights at the country’s main airport, they faced new challenges.
With a patient-centered approach, 228 received appropriate care, including more than sixty glaucomatous patients, 4 for laser procedures, 14 patients for cataract surgeries, cases of conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, chalazion, retinopathy and problems related to eye trauma and serious infections, often not treated due to lack of local resources. Each consultation included a vision exam, an eye health assessment, and recommendations for follow-up. For complex cases, referrals to specialists have been arranged. More than 200 corrective glasses were donated as well as eye drops and other medicines free of charge. Several individuals, including glaucoma sufferers, testify that they have not received this appropriate care for semesters or even years. This has led to complications especially in those requiring regular eye follow-ups.
