Sept. 26, 2023 — Prevent Blindness is teaming up with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to raise awareness about vision and eye health issues while promoting access to eye care as part of World Sight Day on Oct. 12. IAPB shares that this year’s theme, “Love Your Eyes at Work,” was chosen to emphasize the importance of protecting vision in the workplace and to call on business leaders to prioritize the eye health of workers everywhere.
More than 13 million people worldwide live with vison impairment linked to their work, amounting to 1% of all nonfatal occupational injuries, according to a new report from IAPB and the International Labour Organization. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that while 79% of employees with vision care plans choose to use them, such plans were available to only 28% of workers compared to medical care (73%) and dental care (44%). While medical insurance generally covers services related to the health of the eye, it doesn’t always cover preventative comprehensive eye exams, routine eye care, or the costs of vision correction. Further, health disparities abound as workers with higher wages have greater access to vision care plans than those with lower wages: 11% of those in the bottom 25% of wages have access compared to 42% of those in the highest 25%.
“This World Sight Day, we call upon employers to examine the benefits they offer their employees, insurers to consider expanding their vision and eye health offerings, and federal and state policymakers to prioritize our nation’s eye health and safety in their health care policy actions,” says Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “All those working to support themselves and their families, while contributing to America’s economy, deserve access to eye care that can help them enjoy productive and engaging lives and reap the full benefits of their professional work.”
Prevent Blindness recently hosted a World Sight Day reception at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C., featuring Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB, and Vivian Fridas, public policy specialist for the National Industries for the Blind and manager of the Advocates for Leadership and Employment Program. Fridas shared her personal journey with progressive sight loss, being a child of immigrants, and how workplace accommodations enabled her to remain at work.
Prevent Blindness and its affiliates will host free vision screenings and education events across the country with a focus on workplaces that include smaller businesses and the self-employed.
Leading up to World Sight Day, the nonprofit will share personal stories on its social media channels from alumni of the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program. The program, which stands for “Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training,” empowers participants—patients, care partners, and professionals alike—to become confident advocates for vision and eye health.