Celebrating World Sight Day WHO launch WHOeyes app 

Celebrating World Sight Day WHO launch WHOeyes app 

For this year’s celebration, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched “WHOeyes”, a free app for the general public to check how well they can see things close up and at a distance and learn how they can protect their eyes.

The app checks visual acuity – a measure of how well the eye can distinguish shapes and details at a given distance and is the most common assessment of visual function. It is a simple, non-invasive measure, which is critical to determine if someone has a vision impairment. Many people with vision loss are unaware of it. Regular vision checks can ensure that vision impairment is identified as early as possible, and that action can be taken to preserve eyesight.

“The WHOeyes app can help people quickly and easily identify potential vision issues that merit further checking by a qualified professional,” said Dr Bente Mikkelsen, WHO Director for Noncommunicable Diseases. “We decided to share this simple eye test and quick tips for eye care on an app, as people use their phones daily, and many people are unaware that they have a vision problem until it is too late.”

Available in all 6 UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), the WHOeyes app can be downloaded for free both on the Apple App Store and Google Play.