Seeing for the First Time

Unlike most health issues in our current world, blindness is largely a solvable issue. With sight saving treatments and procedures available, 4 out of 5 people who are blind don’t need to be.

As such, the See Now campaign has been continuing to highlight this fact by telling the stories of blindness in different ways to reach a variety of audiences. In framing it as a largely avoidable and nonpartisan issue, the See Now campaign is garnering public support and participation, which in turn builds enabling environments for governments to take critical action.  In this vein, we see public action tipping the scale on this issue and making a difference in a way that many other global issues does not allow for. 

The beautiful story of Nabiritha, which has gotten nearly 1 million views to date, shows the moment when she can see for the first time and highlights how a simple operation can save sight.  With more funding from governments for eye care treatments like this one, there could be many more stories like Nabiritha’s: 

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreSeeNow/videos/1368479929937491/

With longer life expectancies and growing populations,  new research is showing that global blindness is set to triple by 2050. Lancet Global Health’s recently released study shows that currently 36 million people are blind, but that number could increase to 115 million by 2050 if we do not act to address avoidable blindness. This looming increase makes See Now’s work to improve and increase funding for these sight savings treatments and procedures more important than ever, as highlighted in this video below: 

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreSeeNow/videos/1360849884033829/

As World Sight Day approaches on October 12th, 2017, eye care advocates worldwide plan for actions combat the threat of global blindness tripling by 2050. Join the See Now movement, and look out for ways you can participate on World Sight Day.