Every October, the world comes together to celebrate World Sight Day, an initiative of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). The theme is simple - Love Your Eyes.
Healthy eyes and clear, comfortable vision supports better work performance, helps children learn, and allows people to stay active and independent. Yet many eye conditions develop slowly and without obvious symptoms. That’s why World Sight Day is the perfect reminder to prioritise your vision.
8 Things You Need to Know About Your Eyes at Work
Whether you’re working in an office, on a building site, or at home, good vision makes a difference. Research shows:
- Productivity improves with clear vision. Wearing the right glasses can boost work performance by 22%.
- Better eyesight can improve earning potential. After cataract surgery, 46% of people in one study moved up an income bracket.
- Most workplace eye injuries are preventable. Almost 9 in 10 injuries could be avoided with proper safety eyewear.
- Eye injuries can lead to permanent vision loss. Prevention (yes, safety glasses) and early assessment and care is essential.
- Screen time affects everyone. Prolonged digital device use can strain eyes and reduce efficiency.
- Even mild vision problems matter. Slight impairment can lower productivity by 10% and accuracy by 22%.
- Most sight loss is preventable or treatable. Early detection is key—up to 90% of eye conditions can be slowed or managed.
- Eye health is a working-age issue. Over 160 million working-age adults worldwide live with moderate to severe sight loss.
Reducing Digital Eye Strain
Many Aucklanders spend long hours on screens. To reduce digital eye strain, try these simple changes:
- Wear your glasses as prescribed by your optometrist.
- Take breaks: use the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
- Blink often to keep your eyes moist—consider lubricating drops if needed.
- Set up your workstation: screens should be 10–12 cm below eye level and 50–70 cm away.
- Adjust display settings: tweak brightness, contrast, colour, and text size.
- Minimise glare with anti-glare filters or screen positioning.
These ergonomic changes can protect your eyes and support productivity.
Children’s Eye Health: What Parents Should Watch For
Children don’t always realise—or tell you—when they’re having vision problems. Look out for these signs:
- Avoiding reading or close activities.
- Squinting, tilting the head, or covering one eye.
- Frequent blinking, rubbing, or watery eyes.
- Misaligned pupils or drifting eyes.
- Trouble telling apart similar colours.
- Complaints of ongoing blurry vision, even with glasses.
- Spots, redness, or unusual reflections in the eye.
- Losing interest quickly when tasks require vision.
If you notice any of these, book an eye exam in Ponsonby with our experienced team. Early detection is especially important if your child was born preterm, has other health conditions, or if there’s a family history of eye disease.
Take Action This World Sight Day
This October, we encourage everyone in Auckland to take steps to Love Your Eyes:
- Book an eye exam – routine checks are the best way to catch problems early.
- Protect your eyes with safety eyewear and sunglasses.
- Be screen smart – follow healthy digital habits.
- Watch for warning signs in kids and arrange regular eye tests.
- Encourage others – friends, whānau, and colleagues – to do the same.
Why Choose Illume Eye Care in Ponsonby?
At Illume Eye Care, we provide expert, personalised optometry for the Auckland community. From comprehensive eye exams and contact lenses to advanced dry eye treatments and myopia management for children, our focus is on modern clinical care in a welcoming environment.
This World Sight Day, take the pledge to Love Your Eyes—and let us help you protect your vision for the future.