NEW YORK— Optometry Giving Sight reports that close to 1,000 optometrists and their practices throughout North America are already raising funds in support of the upcoming World Sight Day Challenge on Oct. 10 to help people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired due to uncorrected refractive error.

Other ECPs are making personal or practice donations, buying the charity’s “people power” T-shirts and wristbands, and talking with their practice managers about the best way to celebrate World Sight Day and to engage staff and patients in a positive way.

“We hope that everyone in the profession and industry will consider an online donation to Optometry Giving Sight over the next few weeks,” said CEO Clive Miller. “World Sight Day is celebrated by eyecare professionals around the world and it’s a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of eye health in our local communities, as well as raise funds.”

A major highlight of this year’s campaign is the formation of a coalition of 13 leading eyecare companies to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and access to care. The Coalition, which is being coordinated by VSP Global, will support a range of activities over the coming weeks including a major outreach event in Atlanta from Oct. 9 to 13, which will provide eye exams for an estimated 2,000 disadvantaged people.

Coalition members include ABB Optical Group, Alcon, AllAboutVision.com, CooperVision, Essilor, Eyefinity, Marchon Eyewear, TLC Laser Eye Centers, Transitions Optical, Vistakon, a Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., Vision Source, VSP Optics, and VSP Vision Care.

The World Sight Day Challenge is the largest annual global fundraising campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error. This year’s challenge takes place from Sept. 1 through World Sight Day on Oct. 10.

Donations can be made at www.givingsight.org, by calling 1-888-OGS-GIVE or by visiting OGS at Vision Expo West Booth #16000.

For a full list of companies supporting the WSD Challenge, go to VisionMonday.com.