From staff reports
The Beaufort Lions Club is trying to raise awareness in Recognition of World Sight Day.
World Sight Day is an International Day of Awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of October. This year, World Sight Day falls on Thursday, Oct. 13. World Sight Day serves as a reminder to individuals to love their eyes. People are asked to consider the importance of eye health and protect their eyes not only for the present but the future.
Eye health is key to ensuring good health, mental health, and well-being. Vision loss increases the risk of premature mortality which increases as vision loss becomes more severe.
The risk of premature mortality is:
29% higher for people with mild to moderate vision loss;
49% higher for people with moderate to severe vision loss;
157% higher for people with blindness.
Vision loss results in $410.7 billion in lost productivity annually worldwide; and $134 billion per year in the United States. Educational performance is linked to good vision. Children with vision impairment have poorer educational outcomes and are more likely to be excluded from schools. Investing in eye health services improves educational attainment and increases participation in education.
During the month of October, the Beaufort Lions Club will expand its location of eyeglasses donation boxes to other locations around the city. Donated eyeglasses from Beaufort are sterilized, grades and sent to the Mozambique Project for Sight. Please check closets and drawers for unused eyewear in good condition to help those who cannot afford glasses.
Donation collection boxes are found at all eye doctor offices as well as the Scott Street and St. Helena Libraries, AMVETS, Naval Hospital Beaufort, Dataw Community Center, Beaufort Memorial Hospital Front Desk, Tidal Creek Fellowship Church, The Oaks at Salem Road, Pleasant Point Community Center, Hometown Reality, St. John’s Lutheran Church, and Sea Island Presbyterian Church.
