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Optometric network raises funds for Optometry Giving Sight
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ORLANDO, Fla. - Nearly 200 optometrists made Optometry Giving Sight their international charity of choice at the Vision Source North American Meeting in Orlando, Fla., raising nearly $100,000 for people who are blind or vision impaired due to uncorrected refractive error.
This was the second year in a row that these meeting attendees have supported Optometry Giving Sight in such numbers.
"The support of Vision Source has been directly responsible for funding projects in Africa and Asia over the past year that have screened more than 1 million adults and children and dispensed more than 50,000 pairs of glasses," Optometry Giving Sight Chief Executive Officer Brien Holden said. "The ongoing commitment that we receive from the executive team and members of Vision Source means that millions more will receive access to services, training and infrastructure support this year and next."
Prof. Holden told Vision Source meeting attendees that, in addition to their financial support, their support for Optometry Giving Sight was helping to create a revolution in the world of blindness prevention, with optometry now playing a leading role in efforts to eliminate refractive error blindness by the year 2020.
Vision Source Chief Executive Officer Glenn Ellisor, OD, said, "We believe in the work of Optometry Giving Sight and are proud that our colleagues continue to pledge support to an issue that is so close to our hearts. We truly believe that our executives, members, patients and suppliers can all play a part in helping some of the many people who are blind or vision impaired simply because they don't have access to an eye examination and a pair of glasses."
Vision Source is a network of 3,400 independent doctors of optometry in 1,800 practices in the United States and Canada. Optometry Giving Sight is a joint initiative of the World Optometry Foundation, the International Centre for Eyecare Education and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Its aim is to galvanize support from optometrists, their patients, associations, industry partners and corporations to raise funds for projects directed toward the elimination of uncorrected refractive error - simply the need for an eye examination and a pair of glasses.
To sign up for the Optometry Giving Sight Leaders Campaign, visit www.givingsight.org or call 1-888-OGS-GIVE. Donations are welcome from optometrists, office managers, patients and other members of the industry.
This information is provided as a service to readers by Primary Care Optometry News.