October 11th was World Sight Day, a day set aside to remind the public that an estimated 37 million children and adults are blind worldwide, and that every year between 1 and 2 million more will lose their sight. What makes these figures even more tragic is the fact that 75 percent of these people don’t have to be blind — their blindness could have been prevented, or their eyesight restored, if only they had access to proper eye care.

Unless steps are taken now, it is estimated that by the year 2020 blindness will affect more than 76 million people.

As part of the Vision 2020: The Right to Sight global initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, World Sight Day provides an annual opportunity for global health organizations, philanthropic institutions and individuals to focus public attention on the urgent need to improve eye care for people around the world. This year's theme was vision in children.

ORBIS International is dedicated to eliminating avoidable blindness and improving eye care in the developing world. ORBIS carries out programs onboard its Flying Eye Hospital and at hospitals in developing countries to help the blind see while training local doctors and nurses in the latest sight-saving techniques.

With your support, ORBIS will be able to continue building the capacity of eye care facilities around the developing world. Won’t you help us? Please give generously so that others may see.