Let’s inspire kids everywhere to love their eyes
WORLD SIGHT DAY WAS 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. In 2024, the spotlight was 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 held the second annual See The Possibilities Photo Contest. To celebrate World Sight Day 2024’s focus on children and youth, the photo theme this year was ‘Young at Heart’.
We asked for your best photos of the moments that make you feel ‘Young at Heart’. Canada, you delivered!
YOUR ‘YOUNG AT HEART’ SNAPS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!
COS Choice Winner
Running FreeAshley - Mission, British Columbia
People’s Choice Winner
Through His Eyes: A World Yet to Be SeenJohn - Montreal, Quebec
Check out the rest of the photos that were sent in. Aren’t they pure joy?
WORLD SIGHT DAY 2024: SPOTLIGHT ON CHILDREN’S EYE HEALTH
In 2024, our attention was focused on the importance of eye health in young people.
PRIORITIZING EYE HEALTH SHOULD START EARLY
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.
Guide Artie through the maze to find their glasses.
Want to know more about kids eye health?
Hear from pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Vivian Hill.
