World Sight Day on October 8: causes of vision problems and what screens do to the eyes

World Sight Day is observed every year on the second Thursday of October. This year, 2026, it falls on October 8. According to a 2020 estimate, about 19.3 per cent of the country's population was affected by some form of vision problem. However, the problem can have many causes, so it would not be right to link it directly to the use of mobile phones or screens, the information says.

The day began with a private organisation. World Sight Day was first observed on October 8, 1998, through the SightFirst Campaign. The World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) later decided to observe the day on the second Thursday of October. The day, which began as the campaign of one organisation, was thus adopted by the World Health Organization and another body, which also fixed its date.

The stated purpose of the day is to raise awareness about eyesight among people across the world and to try to give sight to those who are blind.

Turning to the main causes of vision impairment and blindness: according to the information, the eye's natural lens turns cloudy with age. It says this is more common in India. Diabetes and high blood pressure damage the retina of the eye, a condition known as "diabetic retinopathy".

It also notes that in some families, if someone has earlier had to wear glasses or had eye diseases, the next generation may suffer from them too. A diet low in "vitamin A" and other essential nutrients can also cause eye problems. Besides, the eyes' efficiency declines naturally with age, and the trouble increases after the age of 40, it was also said.

On screen use, the information says that continuous and heavy use of mobile phones and television does not cause blindness. But looking at a screen for long periods causes "digital eye strain" or "computer vision syndrome". This leads to dry or watery eyes, red eyes, itching, blurred vision and headaches.