Optometry Giving Sight has issued a challenge to optometrists in the United States: Donate the fees from eye exams on World Sight Day, October 11, to help the estimated 13 million children worldwide who are blind or vision impaired due to refractive error.

There are more than 36,000 optometrists in the United States who see over 74 million patients each year, says Australian optometrist Brien Holden, CEO of Optometry Giving Sight. If every practice donated its eye exam fees on World Sight Day, or if each optometrist pledged $100 per month, we would be well on the way to raising the funds needed to eliminate this form of preventable blindness by the year 2020.

Optometry Giving Sight is a global joint initiative of the World Optometry Foundation, the International Centre for Eyecare Education, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

To participate, contact Optometry Giving Sight at 1-888-OGS-GIVE, e-mail

usa@givingsight.org, or visit www.givingsight.org.