Optometry Giving Sight

Optometrists across Australia joined the 5th World Sight Day Challenge in record numbers this year, with nearly 400 practices taking part. On World Sight Day itself, red t-shirts were out in force, donation boxes on display and lolly jar guessing contests, raffles and bake sales under way.

Barb Lawry from Eyecare Plus Mudgee said the practice had been eagerly looking forward to World Sight Day. “We had a good response from our patients following an article in the local newspaper with plenty of queries regarding the charity we were supporting. We had great fun - and continued to wear our t-shirts throughout the whole month in support of the charity,” she said.

Lots of sausages sizzled on World Sight Day at the offices of optical supply companies too, with Rodenstock, Maui Jim and Mimo holding fundraising barbeques for staff. General Optical supplemented their BBQ with a raffle including five Guess sunglasses gift sets valued at $250 each. They raised additional funds by selling discontinued frames to their staff and achieved an impressive total of $10,600.

“The fund raising effort was the brainchild of our Lab Manager, George Webster,” said Jonathon Lewis, Managing director of General Optical Pty Ltd. “George’s idea was to create an opportunity to sell discontinued sunglasses to staff, with $10 from every sale donated to Optometry Giving Sight. As the staff purchased at different times during the year, for gifts for family members or friends, we decided to collect all the funds throughout the year as part of the WSDC,” he added.

Aussie optometry students had a bumper year raising almost $11,000 to date, not only through on-campus bake sales and sausage sizzles, but also through more adventurous activities such as going legally blind for a day by wearing contact lenses to simulate refractive error. UNSW student Carmen Duong described the experience.

“It was incredibly hard to read and found it almost impossible to communicate to people,” she said. “Not only was it hard to read messages and such, it was difficult to read their facial expressions, body language, etc. It was hard having to rely on my other senses to make it through the day. Although I did experience headaches, the largest impression from the experience was feeling a huge sense of insecurity,” she added.

“It’s great to see so many people in the optical profession and industry taking part in the Challenge and we thank you all for your support,” said Ron Baroni, Country Manager for Optometry Giving Sight.  “We encourage people to remit their donations as soon as possible so we can put the money to work where it is needed most.”

The money raised from the World Sight Day Challenge will help develop sustainable vision care services in communities that have little or no access to eye care. 85 percent of all funds raised by optometrists and their patients go directly to programs that give sight to those most in need.

Photo: (top) General Optical staff at their BBQ on World Sight Day, (above right) UNSW students at one of their fundraising BBQs