Let’s inspire kids everywhere to love their eyes

WORLD SIGHT DAY IS OCTOBER 10, 2024

World Sight Day, coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), is a global day of awareness about the importance of eye health. This year, the spotlight is on championing eye health for children and young people everywhere.

SEE THE POSSIBILITIES ‘YOUNG AT HEART’ PHOTO CONTEST

In honour of World Sight Day, we’re excited to hold the second annual See The Possibilities Photo Contest. To celebrate this year’s focus on children and youth, we’re asking you to share your best ‘Young at Heart’ photos.

They say there’s a kid in all of us. What makes YOU feel like a kid again? Maybe it’s splashing in a puddle, seeing a bunch of colourful balloons, or watching your own little one’s face light up on Christmas morning.

Show us your best photos of the moments that make you feel ‘Young at Heart’.
Submit your photo for a chance to win!

Time left to enter

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SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO
Vote on your favourite photo to help choose a winner!

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VOTE NOW

WIN ONE OF TWO PRIZES

Two winning photos will be selected – one by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) panel and one by popular vote.
$300 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE COS CHOICE WINNING PHOTO
$300 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE ‘PEOPLE’S CHOICE’ WINNING PHOTO

WHAT’S NEXT?

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE
Wednesday October 2, 2024 at 3:59pm ET
VOTING OPENS
Wednesday October 2, 2024 at 4pm ET
LAST DAY TO VOTE
Thursday October 24, 2024 at 4pm ET
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Friday October 25, 2024

YOUR ‘YOUNG AT HEART’ SNAPS

Check out the pics that have already been submitted. Aren’t they pure joy?
Starting October 2
Vote for your favourite photo to help choose the People’s Choice winner
SEE FULL GALLERY

PRIORITIZING EYE HEALTH SHOULD START EARLY

Happy kids at elementary school

Good vision is vital to a child’s physical development, success in school, and overall well-being. Prioritizing eye health from a young age helps set kids up for a lifetime of healthy vision.

Myopia in focus

Myopia (also known as near-sightedness) is a common eye-focusing disorder that causes distant objects to appear blurry.

Normal vision

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too quickly (typically during childhood) and becomes abnormally long

This affects the eye’s ability to bend light to properly focus on the retina, causing far vision to be blurred

The development of myopia in children is a growing issue worldwide

It’s estimated that by 2050, more than 50% of people will have myopia

Evidence shows that the risk of myopia increases with

More time spent on
“near work” (reading and
on screens)

Less time
spent outdoors

It’s about more than just needing glasses

People with myopia are at a higher risk for serious eye conditions later in life

Glaucoma

Cataracts

Retinal detachment and tears

Help prevent childhood myopia or delay its progression with these simple habits:

Limit screen time,
especially near-screen
tasks

Take screen breaks

Spend more time
outside

Ensure regular
vision screenings to
assess for myopia

Treatments are available that can help intervene during the rapid growth phase to help
slow down myopia progression.

5 signs of vision problems in children

1

Turning or tilting
their head

2

Squinting

3

Holding objects
too close

4

Excessive
blinking

5

Eye rubbing

Protect your child’s vision. Watch for signs of vision problems and get regular vision screenings to help detect and treat any problems early.
MazeTime_Thumbnail_ENG.png

Guide Artie through the maze to find their glasses


DOWNLOAD

Want to know more about kids eye health?

Hear from pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Vivian Hill.
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Don’t miss this fun kid’s colouring sheet



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ASSOCIATION​

Canadian Ophthalmological Society

Copyright © Canadian Ophthalmological Society / 309-1505 Laperriere Avenue, Ottawa ON K1Z 7TI

SEE THE POSSIBILITIES “YOUNG AT HEART” PHOTO CONTEST

Photo Submission

Use the form below to enter the contest. You can submit up to 5 photos.

Upload a photo to the contest

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Your photo(s) will be published to the gallery with your first name, city, and province/territory.

PHOTO DETAILS:

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif

  • You are 18 years of age or older
  • You live in Canada
  • You consent to the Canadian Ophthalmological Society’s use of your photo entry for promotional purposes in the future
  • You own the copyright to your contest photo entry as its author
  • Your subject(s) are over the age of 18 and have given consent for the use of his/her image or have permission from a parent/guardian for submission

*Required field.

  • Vous avez 18 ans ou plus;
  • Vous habitez au Canada;
  • Vous consentez à ce que la Société canadienne d’ophtalmologie se serve de votre photo à des fins promotionnelles à l’avenir;
  • Vous détenez les droits réservés pour la photo que vous avez soumise au concours et en êtes l’auteure ou auteur;
  • Votre ou vos sujets sont âgés de plus de 18 ans et ont donné leur consentement quant à l’utilisation de leur image ou ont la permission d’un parent ou d’un tuteur.

*Champs Requis.

RULES & REGULATIONS

GENERAL
These Rules and Regulations are final on all matters relating to the See The Possibilities “Young at Heart” Photo Contest (the “Contest”). By applying, all Entrants agree to be bound by these Rules and Regulations.

SPONSOR
The sponsor (“Contest Sponsor”) of the Contest is the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) (309-1505 Laperriere Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7T1).

ELIGIBILITY
Contest is open to Canadian residents who are 18 years of age or older. To be eligible to enter the Contest or win a prize, you must be a permanent resident of Canada† and not an employee of, a member of the immediate family of, or domiciled with an employee of the COS. No purchase is necessary to enter the Contest or to win a prize. All photographs entered in the Contest must be of Canadian content (i.e. taken in Canada). Participation in the Contest constitutes Entrants’ full and unconditional agreement to abide by these Contest Rules and Regulations and the Contest Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.
†Legal considerations require restricting the Contest to Canadian residents.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Personal Information collected from Entrants by the Contest Sponsor will be used by the Contest Sponsor or its affiliates to administer the Contest and in connection with the publication of winning photographs. Neither the Contest Sponsor nor its affiliates will share personal information relating to Entrants with any third parties, except as necessary for the administration of the Contest or as may be required by law. The Contest Sponsor will not attempt to contact the Entrant for any other purpose than to administer the Contest or as may be required by law unless they have opted-in to receive relevant communications from the Contest Sponsor. The Contest Sponsor respects the privacy of everyone who enters the contest.

FORMAT OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR SUBMISSION
Photograph entries can be submitted electronically through the contest website. Each contest Entrant may submit up to 5 photographs.

Content alteration of digital files is not acceptable; cropping of photos is permitted, tonal or colour corrections are acceptable, including black and white conversion. Winning Entrants must be able to provide a high-resolution version of each photo that they submit (uncompressed TIFF or maximum quality JPEG, Grayscale or Colour (RGB)). Digital files should be 3600 pixels wide by 2700 pixels tall (or 12” x 9”) at 300 dpi. For photographs that are selected as winning entries, the high-resolution version of the photograph will be required for reproduction. Entrants who fail to provide a high-resolution version within the time period set by the Contest Sponsors (not to exceed one week following prize notification) will forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be selected by the judging panel. In such a case, no substitute prizes will be awarded.

PUBLICATION
By submitting a photo to the contest, the Entrant hereby grants the COS the right to use photos submitted to the contest. COS will have rights to use images digitally to (a) further expand on the print edition; (b) promote See the Possibilities; and (c) promote See The Possibilities via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media outlets. By submitting a photo to the contest, the Entrant also hereby grants to COS the non-exclusive, perpetual right and license to reproduce, publish and distribute, and to authorize the reproduction, publication and distribution of the photos, in print, on microfilm and microfiche, and in all electronic forms and media now known or later developed, including, but not limited to, on CD-ROM, over the Internet. By uploading a photo to the contest, Entrants agree that any such reproduction, publication or distribution may be the work alone and not in conjunction with the works with which it is first published by COS. COS reserves the non-exclusive right to publish any entry and/or use any entry in its material during or after the Contest without further compensation to the Entrants. For COS, promotional material shall include without limitation any print or electronic advertising or marketing material such as posters, online images, newspaper ads, television ads, e-mails and social media content. Waiver forms/model releases are the responsibility of the Entrant and must be available in the event the photo is selected as a winning photograph.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
With regard to any photograph submitted to this Contest, the owner of the photo’s copyright retains all copyright. By uploading any photograph to the Contest, you grant (or warrant that the owner of such materials expressly grants) COS a world-wide, royalty-free, irrevocable and non-exclusive right and license to use, copy, adapt, transmit, communicate, publicly display and perform, distribute and create compilations and derivative works or merchandise from any such submitted photograph to promote the Contest. You represent and warrant that you have the right to grant the license set out above. In the event copyright of any photograph submitted by an eligible entrant belongs to a minor, permission to enter the photo in the Contest, reprint, publish, or otherwise reproduce the images, as described above, must have been obtained, in writing, from the child’s parent or guardian prior to entry of the photograph in the Contest. Proof of such permission must be provided to the Contest Sponsor immediately upon request.

DEADLINES
Contest opens September 10, 2024 and closes at 3:59p.m. EST on October 2, 2024. All photographic entries must be uploaded by 3:59p.m. EST on October 2, 2024.
Public voting opens on October 2, 2024 and closes October 24, 2024 at 4:00pm EST. All votes must be placed by then.
Entries submitted through fraudulent means or in any way tampered with, incorrect, unclear, forged, mutilated, illegible, indecipherable or mechanically reproduced may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsor and/or the judging panel (referenced below).
All entries become the property of the Contest Sponsor and will not be returned. The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for entries lost, late, misdirected, illegible or delayed for any reason.

JUDGING
All photographs submitted to the Contest will be reviewed by COS and the Contest winners will be selected by a panel of COS representatives and by public voting. All decisions of the judging panel are final.

VOTING
On October 2, 2024, photo submissions will become available for voting by the public on the See The Possibilities website. The voting will close October 24, 2024. You may vote for one photo per day.

RESPONSIBILITY
The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any failure of the website during this Contest. Nor is it responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software or any e-mail, online or internet entry lost due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or property related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the promotion.

CHANCES OF WINNING
The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible photographs received and the evaluation of the photographs by the judging panel.

PRIZES
Contest prizes consist of two (2) Amazon Gift Cards valued at $300 each. Winners will receive no compensation, credit or prizing other than as disclosed in these Rules or otherwise provided at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsor. Prizes are not transferable; no prize substitutions or equivalents are permitted, except by the Contest Sponsor at its sole discretion. In all cases, the Contest Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any of the Contest Prizes.

PRIZE CONDITIONS (ALL PRIZES)
All prizes must be accepted as awarded and may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion, sold, redeemed for cash, combined with any other promotion, exchanged for a different prize.
By accepting a prize, the prize winner agrees to hold the Contest Sponsor and their respective agencies, affiliates, parent(s), subsidiaries, agents, advertising and promotion agencies and anyone else involved in the development, production or handling of the Contest and their respective directors, officers, employees and assigns, harmless against any and all claims and liability arising out of acceptance or use of a prize.
In order to be declared a winner, the selected entrant must sign and return a declaration and release form confirming eligibility and compliance with these Contest Rules and Regulations, consenting to the use, without further compensation, of winner’s name, address (city and province only) and photograph(s) or video(s) in any Contest-related publicity and releasing the Contest Sponsor and their respective agencies, affiliates, parent(s), subsidiaries, agents, advertising and promotion agencies and anyone else involved in the development, production or handling of the Contest and their respective directors, officers, employees and assigns from all liability arising in connection with the Contest or the acceptance, use or redemption of a Prize as awarded. The declaration and release must be returned to the Contest Sponsor within ten (10) days after receipt of the declaration and release from the Contest Sponsor. Entrants who fail or are unable to meet any of these Rules and Regulations may be disqualified and alternate winner(s) will be selected.
Any litigation respecting the conduct and awarding of a prize in this Contest in Québec may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Any litigation respecting the awarding of a prize may be submitted to the Régie only for the purpose of helping the parties reach a settlement. Void where prohibited by law.

DISPUTES
By participating in the Contest, each Entrant agrees to be bound by these Contest Rules and Regulations. In the event of any disagreement as to whether a person is an Entrant, a potential winner or a winner, or as to the qualification of any Entrant, potential winner or winner to, or the adequacy of any prize or any substitute prize, the decision of the Contest Sponsor will be final. For Residents of Quebec Only: Any litigation respecting the conduct or organization of a publicity contest may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling.