I will never forget my first pair of glasses. They were these copper colored, thin, oval frames that were definitely not suited for my face shape. For many of us here in the United States, growing up with glasses as a child was reason for ridicule. The phrase “four-eyes” is well known and often used. However, how would your life have been different, if glasses were never an option, if you simply just couldn’t see well ever again?
Well for over 1 billion people, 1 in 7 people, that is a reality. I personally went from a prescription of -.25 to -5. If you don’t know what that means, it means when I don’t have contacts in or glasses on I can’t even make out your facial features.
There was one time that made me realize how blessed I am to be able to get vision care so easily…
I was in Long Island with a friend and one of my contacts had started to irritate me, and after deciding to take it out to clean it… it ripped. I had driven there and with one good eye I had to let my friend drive home. It is nerve-wracking enough having another person driving your car, let alone not being able to see what is happening the whole way home. Within hours I was able to put in a new contact and all was well with my world.
Had I not had vision care, I would never be able to even leave my home without assistance. The fact that so many people in the United States and the world do not have any access at all to vision care is an alarming realization.
Luckily, there is OneSight. OneSight is an independent nonprofit committed to eradicating the global vision care crisis. Their promise is simple: they will not stop until the world can see. They work to provide eye exams and glasses to communities all over the world for sustainable and long-term solutions. In 27 years OneSight has helped over 9 million people in 41 countries and 47 states see clearly.
October 8th is World Sight Day!
You can #HelpTheWorldSee by going to OneSight.org/donate and donating! Even $1 can make a huge difference in someone’s life. What would you do if you couldn’t clearly see the sunset, watch your baby take their first steps, or read?
Share a photo of your “hand-glasses” (see my picture) and spread the word using #HelpTheWorldSee!
Together we can make sure no one misses witnessing a magical moment!
Connect
- Twitter: @OneSightOrg
- Facebook: @OneSight
- Instagram: @OneSight
- Website: onesight.org
- Donation Link: onesight.org/donate
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