Linden Optometry P.C. Holds Fundraiser for World Sight Day

Online, September 27, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Linden Optometry, P.C. is taking part in the World Sight Day Challenge - from September 1st through to World Sight Day, October 10th - in order to help the estimated 600 million people worldwide who are blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to an eye exam or glasses.

The World Sight Day Challenge is the largest annual global fundraising campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error - and is supported by eye care professionals around the world. The campaign is run by global charity, Optometry Giving Sight.

During the World Sight Day Challenge, Doctors and Staff at Linden Optometry - wearing World Sight Day T-Shirts - are inviting patients to drop a dollar or two into World Sight Day donation boxes located throughout the store. Linden Optometry will match those donations, dollar-for-dollar, at the close of World Sight Day Challenge (October 10th). The purpose is to raise awareness of the importance of everyone being able to get their eyes tested and have access to quality eye and vision care.

"We have proudly supported Optometry Giving Sight for several years, but this is the first year we have invited our patients to participate, and the response has been overwhelming!" said Alan Limfat, O.D., President and CEO of Linden Optometry P.C. "The World Sight Day Challenge is a very positive campaign because preventable blindness is a solvable problem."

"Most people are surprised to learn that just $5 can be enough to help provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses to someone living in an underserved community. Everyone can make a difference."

The World Sight Day Challenge also features new 'people power' wristbands to encourage everyone who visits Linden Optometry to make a donation and publicly show their support for Optometry Giving Sight.

Anyone who appreciates the importance of good vision can make a donation to Optometry Giving Sight between now and October 10th at www.givingsight.org, or by visiting Linden Optometry, P.C. at 477 E. Colorado Blvd in Pasadena.

About World Sight Day

World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. It is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) under the VISION 2020 Global Initiative. It is supported by eye health organizations around the world - including Optometry Giving Sight - and is included on the official World Health Organization (WHO) calendar. This year's WSD is on October 10th.

2013 is an important year for WSD, as it will mark the launch of a new WHO Action Plan on the prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment 2014-19. In keeping with the main thrust of this new Action Plan, the theme for World Sight Day 2013 is: Universal Eye Health. There will also be a specific call to action: Get your Eyes Tested.

Optometry Giving Sight - is a joint initiative of the World Council of Optometry, the Brien Holden Vision Institute and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness; and is a registered charity in the USA and in Canada. Its major fundraising campaign for the year is the World Sight Day Challenge (WSDC), which is now in its 7th year.

How donations can help:

$50 can help provide a study kit to an optometry student
$100 can help provide 20 people with access to an eye exam and glasses
$300 can help to provide a child size trial frame
$1200 could pay a month's salary for an optometrist to see up to 40 patients a day

Optometry Giving Sight guarantees that 85 % of donations go directly to helping support sustainable eye and vision care projects. Visit givingsight.org for more information

About Linden Optometry P.C.

Linden Optometry, P.C. is a 24-doctor independent optometry practice, proudly serving Pasadena for 57 years. Linden Optometry's total fund-raising goal this year is $5,000 - enough to provide an eye exam and glasses for 1,000 people in an underserved community.