Envision Optical Joining the Fight Against Poverty

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For Immediate Release

During World Sight Day Challenge (11th October 2012) a local optometrist, Andrew Bowden of Envision Optical, will be joining the fight to transform lives and give the gift of vision. Andrew is inviting patients to donate during the World Sight Day Challenge (01.10.2012-31.10.2012) and help people in developing communities fight the injustice of poverty.

Envision Optical will attempt to raise $2000, helping to provide eye exams and glasses to the areas in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The funds raised will help the more than 600 million people in the world who are blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to an eye exam or glasses. Inspired by stories like that of Loid Semente (right), who is one of the students training to become an optometrist with the Mozambique Eyecare Project, supported by Optometry Giving Sight. Loid will be one of the first optometrists in her country. She is passionate about optometry because of the significant impact it can have for the people of Mozambique. “Sight is empowering. For some, access to eye care is the first step towards getting an education, or providing for your family,” she said.

Last year Envision Optical raised close to $1000. With those generous donations it meant that nearly 175 people could see to work again and provide for their families or the children of at least eight schools can be given an equal opportunity to learn. This could make all the difference between a life of poverty and one of opportunity for hundreds of people in need.

“I have supported Optometry Giving Sight for 7 years and I am proud to assist with donations for such a worthwhile cause,” said Andrew. “It’s easy for us to take good vision for granted so taking the World Sight Day Challenge is a great way to raise funds to help people who don’t have access to even basic vision care.”

“We are raising money through free repair on glasses, in store competitions and by simply appealing to the community to donate and recognise the how just a small contribution can go a long way,” said Andrew. Optometry Giving Sight, the organiser of the World Sight Day Challenge, funds programs improving the quality of life of people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to basic eye care. The programs provide exams and spectacles, trains optometrists in remote areas, and establishes vision centres and clinics in hopes to transform lives. There are 670 million people who are blind or vision impaired simply because they don’t have access to an eye examination and glasses. Donations will enable Optometry Giving Sight to fund more sustainable programs that provide eye exams and glasses to millions of people in need. Raised funds will be directed to projects in 16 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Indigenous Australia.

Just $5 can provide an eye examination and a pair of glasses for someone in a developing country. This alone could be enough to save someone from the injustices of poverty. Optometry Giving Sight guarantees that 85 percent of all funds raised by optometrists and their patients go directly to programs that give sight to those most in need.

Envision Optical is located at Burleigh Waters, Burleigh Heads, Tweed Heads South and Nerang. Call (07) 55 93 78 44 to schedule an appointment or donate today.

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· For More Information please contact Andrew Bowden Envision Optical call (07) 5593 7844 or email andrew@envisionoptical.com.au. Website www.envisionoptical.com.au
· For more information about Optometry Giving Sight and the World Sight Day Challenge, visit www.givingsight.org or call 1300 88 10 73.

Notes to Editor
About Envision Optical
Envision Optical is an independent eyecare brand located in 4 locations on the Gold Coast. They infuses comprehensive eyecare with a memorable retail service. With a holistic optical solution that enhance patients ability to do the things they love.

About Optometry Giving Sight
Optometry Giving Sight is a joint initiative of the World Optometry Foundation, the International Centre for Eyecare Education and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Optometry Giving Sight in Australia is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) covered by Item1 of the table in section 30-15 of the IncomeTax Assessment Act1997.

About World Sight Day
World Sight Day is an initiative of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight and is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO); the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and non government organizations with the shared goal of eliminating avoidable blindness by the year 2020, in order to give all people in the world the right to sight. This year, World Sight Day will be held on Thursday, October 11.

About the World Sight Day Challenge
The World Sight Day Challenge is a major fundraising campaign coordinated by Optometry Giving Sight which is designed to raise funds for projects that provide vision care, local training and infrastructure support for people who are blind or vision impaired due to uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an eye exam and a pair of glasses.

Examples of 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
Optometrists are invited to participate by:
· Donating their eye exam fees from World Sight Day, October 11 (or any other day in October).
· Making a personal or practice donation.
· Planning a practice celebration and inviting patient donations over the month.