Local Optometrists Join the Global Campaign for Universal Eye Health

Local optometrists at Mountain View Optometry are taking part in the World Sight Day Challenge during October and inviting members of the community to have their eyes tested during this time, to raise awareness of the campaign.

The World Sight Day Challenge is the largest annual global fundraising campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an eye exam and glasses.

On World Sight Day (October 17), the staff and doctors at Mountain View Optometry will again donate their eye exam fees and hold a celebration including a bake sale and silent auction.  The proceeds will be donated to help the more than 600 million people in the world who are blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to an eye exam or glasses. The campaign is run by global charity, Optometry Giving Sight.  The last two years Mountain View Optometry was ranked 1 ^st and 2 ^nd in all of Canada for total amounts raised during the World Sight Day campaign.

“Our office has proudly supported Optometry Giving Sight for 5 years,” said Dr. Tom Wilk, practice owner.  “The World Sight Day Challenge is a very positive campaign because preventable blindness is such a prevalent issue across the world that has a simple solution.”

“Most people are surprised to learn that just $5 can be enough to help provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses to someone living in an underserved community. Everyone can make a difference.”

Participating is easy – simply get your eyes checked at Mountain View Optometry on Oct. 17, participate in their silent auction (throughout the month) or make a single or monthly donation at www.givingsight.org before the end of October.

Mountain View Optometry is located at 404 1 ^st St. W in Cochrane. Call 403-851-2020 to schedule an appointment!

Transforming Lives:

Thanks to past donations, Optometry Giving Sight has been able to fund 67 projects in 38 countries. These include El Salvador, where last year our local partner Fudem screened 64,000 school children in extremely poor communities.

Primary schoolgirl Carla (pictured) was screened at the Centro Escolar Las Brisas school, in a very poor community in the Soyapango region. With an eye examination and a pair of glasses, Carla’s vision was restored, renewing her potential for a quality education and a life full of opportunity.

Visit givingsight.org for more information.