MEDIA RELEASE
Australians are still not doing enough to look after their sight but a new campaign is hoping to change this by encouraging more people to get their eyes tested.
Launching on World Sight Day (8 October), #snapforsight, a social media campaign coordinated by Vision 2020 Australia is celebrating the importance of sight by asking Australians to think about what they would miss if they could no longer see.
CEO of Vision 2020 Australia Jennifer Gersbeck said Australians were still taking their sight for granted, associating vision loss with something that only happens to other people.
“Sadly, there are too many people who are still not getting their eyes tested and the #snapforsight campaign is a reminder that we need to make our eye health a priority,” she said.
“Many people still don’t think that vision loss is something that will happen to them which is surprising when the majority of Australians say that sight is their most valued sense.”
“#snapforsight is a positive campaign which hopes to encourage Australians to make the connection between what they cherish and the need to look after their sight,” she said.
Ms Gersbeck said regular eye tests were crucial in caring for our sight.
“By not having regular eye tests Australians are more at risk of eye disease as many conditions do not have symptoms which means that you could be losing your sight without even knowing.”
The #snapforsight campaign is tapping into to Australians’ love of sharing images across social media, Ms Gersbeck said.
“Whether it’s children, friends, pets, a favourite food or a football match that is precious, Instagrammers alone are sharing more than 80 million photos a day,” she said.
“By using the whole of October to #snapforsight we are hoping we can save the sight of thousands of Australians.”
You can get involved in the #snapforsight campaign at www.snapforsight.com.au
ENDS
About #snapforsight
#snapforsight is Vision 2020 Australia’s new awareness campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of sight. It’s part of our mission to eliminate avoidable blindness and vision loss. Find out more about how you can cherish your sight and the #snapforsight campaign at www.snapforsight.com.au or join the conversation online #snapforsight.
About Vision 2020 Australia
Established in October 2000, Vision 2020 Australia is part of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, a global initiative of the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
Vision 2020 Australia represents around 50 member organisations involved in: local and global eye care; health promotion; low vision support; vision rehabilitation; eye research; professional assistance and community support.