Collecting used eyeglasses
The World Health Organization has estimated that the number of blind people in the world could double in the next 25 years.
Lions President Albert Anderson. |
To combat the leading causes of blindness and assist in preserving vision, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman is participating in Lions World Sight Day today to heighten awareness and aims to educate millions worldwide about sight preservation and preventable blindness.
Throughout the month of October, The Lions Club of Grand Cayman will be joining in this global event by collecting all types (prescription and non-prescription) of used eyeglasses at various locations such as, Pharmacies, Supermarkets, Gas Stations, (look for collections boxes in your area).
‘It is estimated that 40 million people around the world are blind,’ said President Albert Anderson. ‘On Lions World Sight Day, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman is working in unison with Lions clubs around the world to educate millions of people on the importance of proper eye health care.’
In the United States, approximately 750,000 people are blind and an additional 50,000 more will become blind each year, according to the National Federation of the Blind. Like most developed countries, glaucoma and diabetes are the leading causes of blindness in the US.
On a worldwide scale, an estimated 75 per cent of all blindness is found in Africa and Asia, according to the World Health Organization. In Africa, there are an estimated 500,000 new cases of cataracts each year, of which only one in 10 is operated upon. In India, 80 per cent of the blind suffer from cataracts, with more than 3.8 million new cases reported each year.
FYI
Lions World Sight Day is a global vision initiative sponsored by Lions Clubs International and held annually on the second Thursday of October in an effort to raise awareness about sight-related issues.
For information regarding sight and diabetes contact Committee Chair Lion Tannya Mortimer at 925-3250.
WHO THEY ARE
The Lions Club of Grand Cayman has more than 100 members and meets the first and third Thursday of each month beginning at 7.30pm at the Lions Community Centre. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved, please contact Lion Ian Callow at 916-0232.
For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the Web site at www.lionsclubs.org.
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