ST ANDREW, Jamaica – Monarch Pharmacy, in partnership with the Lions Club of St Andrew Central, marked World Sight Day on October 12, under the theme ‘Love Your Eyes at Work.’

The event focused on promoting eye health, offering vision screening and blood sugar testing to nearly 100 patrons of the pharmacy.

The initiative emphasised early detection and prevention of eye issues, with referrals to the Jamaica Society for the Blind Vision Centre and the Lions Club Sight Clinic at Beechwood for those in need.

In addition to the essential health screenings, patrons were provided with educational pamphlets and advice on protecting their eyes in various aspects of life, including work, school, and recreational activities. The Lions Club of St Andrew Central has been committed to vision loss prevention, eye health education, advocacy, and their role as Knights of the Blind.

“World Sight Day, celebrated annually on October 12, aims to raise awareness about various visual impairments, including blindness. Studies show that approximately one billion people worldwide are affected by visual problems that could be prevented or managed with the right education and awareness,” a statement from Monarch Pharmacy and the Lions Club of St Andrew Central said on Wednesday.

“Visual impairment knows no age boundaries and can greatly impact a person’s ability to perform daily activities. Causes of vision impairment include unattended refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, eye infections, eye trauma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and more. The primary goal of October as Vision Month and World Sight Day is to shed light on the devastating effects of visual issues and promote high-quality eye care services on a global scale,” the statement added.

The Lions Club of St Andrew Central will continue to carry its commitment forward throughout World Sight Month, conducting educational and awareness initiatives and actively supporting the proposed development of accessibility standards by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica.

These standards, initiated through the work of Lion Racquel Artwell in consultation with the Jamaica Society for the Blind and other stakeholders, and will address areas such as accessibility in the built environment and workplaces, information and communication technologies, communication, procurement of goods and services, design and delivery of programmes and services, and transportation.

The collaboration between Monarch Pharmacy and the Lions Club of St Andrew Central stands as a shining example of the significance and benefits of united efforts in advancing eye health, fostering awareness, and striving towards a world with improved vision for all, according to the release.