NEW YORK— Optometry Giving Sight is launching a fresh look and feel to this year’s World Sight Day Challenge, a global campaign in support of universal eye health. Based on a concept of “people power,” the colorful new logo and materials will encourage fundraisers to come together to help the millions in need, according to an announcement from the organization.

For 2013, Optometry Giving Sight will feature its new “people power” wristbands as an easy way for patients, employees and students to make a donation and participate in fundraising activities. Optometry practices and optical companies can also be creative and engage patients, customers and staff with fundraising events throughout the Challenge period.

“Our hope is that everyone in our profession will be wearing our wristband on World Sight Day.” said Clive Miller CEO, Optometry Giving Sight. “Preventable blindness is a solvable problem—and the World Sight Day Challenge is a great way for everyone to make a meaningful contribution and help to provide eye and vision care for all people.”

The World Sight Day Challenge is the largest annual global fundraising campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error. This year’s challenge will take place from Sept. 1 through World Sight Day on Oct. 10.

This year’s World Sight Day will mark the launch of a new World Health Organization (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 known as “Get your Eyes Tested.”

World Sight Day 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.

To make or pledge your donation, or to register your intention to fundraise, visit givingsight.org or call 1888 OGS GIVE.