Every October, World Blindness Awareness Month brings a heightened focus to the blind and visually impaired community and the realities of living without sight. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “everyone, if they live long enough, will experience at least one eye disease or disorder in their lifetime.”
Two globally recognized blindness outreach organizations — The National Federation of the Blind and The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness — offer multiple helpful resources to individuals and their families who are affected directly or indirectly by the daily challenges of severe visual impairment and total blindness.
The proof is in the numbers. An estimated 2.2 billion people around the globe suffer from some form of visual impairment or blindness – including those who simply wear corrective lenses. Read the American Association of Ophthalmology (AAO)’s 21 Ways Aging Changes Your Eyes to learn more on changes in the eyes that come with age that lead to worsening eyesight as individuals grow older.
By age 40, all asymptomatic adults should have a first-time comprehensive eye exam. Call UNC Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020 today to schedule your comprehensive eye exam with a UNC Ophthalmology ophthalmologist or optometrist.