TOMS Vision: World Sight Day 2012

Did you know that out of the 285 million people worldwide who are blind or vision-impaired, about 90 percent live in developing countries? Imagine the hardships you would face if you had a severe vision impairment, even living in the United States. Then think about how much more difficult your life would be if you lived in a country such as Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Egypt or Paraguay. The hard truth is that it’s a vicious cycle: Poverty and reduced access to medications and health care can lead to visual impairment, and that same visual impairment can keep its victims trapped in a life of poverty.

Every year, the second Thursday of October is designated as World Sight Day. This is a day to boost recognition and awareness of the problems caused by a lack of good eye health. It’s a day for encouraging governments and public health agencies to place a high priority on vision care for its citizens, and to educate the public in various countries around the world about how blindness can be prevented.

This year, on World Sight Day 2012, TOMS Shoes wants to be sure that you know about its One For One Campaign. You probably already know that TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need every time a pair is purchased. You might not know, though, that TOMS also donates eye care services to those in need each time an eyewear purchase is made.

Some of the services that TOMS donates include providing necessary medical care for those suffering from illnesses that can affect their vision; providing eye exams and eyeglasses to those who need visual correction; and providing eye surgery, such as cataract removal, to those in danger of losing their vision from correctable conditions. Restoring a person’s vision can allow him or her to get the education necessary to eventually climb out of poverty. It can make a difference for individuals, families and entire communities.

If you haven’t already done so, check out the TOMS eyewear collection. Remember that each time you buy a pair of sunglasses, you’ll be in effect making a donation to those in need. October 11, 2012 is World Sight Day; if you’re in the market for a new pair of sunglasses, consider purchasing from TOMS in order to give someone else the gift of sight!