Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

209 Shares
209 Shares
May

Healthy Vision Month – May 2024

Healthy Vision Month is celebrated every year in May to stress the importance of the health of our eyes. This month was established by the National Eye Institute in 2003 and aims to spread awareness and educate people about the risks of ignoring the health of their eyes. It encourages them to go for regular eye checkups and not wait for eye problems to arise before they do.

History of Healthy Vision Month

The first known record for the treatment of eye diseases dates back to the Ebers Papyrus from Egypt in 1550 B.C. Another early medical text that had extensive info about eye treatment was the “Sushruta Samhita,” an Indian text that is considered one of the pillars of Ayurveda, dating back to the 6th century B.C. The ancient Greeks also made key advances in the understanding of the human eye. The Middle Ages saw the use of microscopes and lenses to examine the eye and its structure.

Georg Joseph Beer, a surgeon, was responsible for pioneering the Beer’s operation as a treatment for cataracts. In 1931, Vladimir Petrovich Filatov became the first person to perform a successful cornea transplant. Charles Schepens founded the Retina Foundation in 1950 (now known as Schepens Eye Research Institute). Ioannis Pallikaris, a Greek surgeon performed the first LASIK surgery in 1989.

All this proves how steady research was in the field of the treatment of the human eye. And more remains to be discovered. According to a survey conducted by the National Eye Institute, more than 23 million Americans aged 18 and above have never undergone an eye exam. And the reason is that most think that they don’t have an eye problem. This attitude can have consequences in the future. Surveys further suggest that by 2030, approximately 4.2 million people will have glaucoma, 11.5 million people will have diabetic retinopathy and 2.8 million will have age-related macular degeneration.

Healthy Vision Month timeline

1805
First Ophthalmic Hospital

The first dedicated ophthalmic hospital opens in London.

1845
Contact Lenses

Sir John Herschel suggests the idea of contact lenses.

1851
Ophthalmoscope

Hermann von Helmholtz invents the ophthalmoscope.

1948
More than a Million

Sir Stewart Duke-Elder establishes the Institute of Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

Healthy Vision Month FAQs

How do you keep your vision healthy?

Methods to continue having healthy vision include having a balanced diet, doing regular exercise, wearing sunglasses when needed, and not smoking. Family history also plays a role here.

Which fruit is best for the eyes?

Some fruits that are great for the health of the eyes are red berries, kiwis, guavas, grapefruits, and oranges.

What is an eye stroke?

Eye stroke refers to the condition that occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the tissue located in front of the optic nerves.

How to Observe Healthy Vision Month

  1. Share on social media

    Share resources and articles on your social media platforms. Many doctors and organizations provide important info on healthy vision. Use the hashtag #HealthyVision or #HealthyVisionMonth.

  2. Reach out via your organization

    If you work at an organization and it has a website, blog, or newsletter, use this to spread the message. Doing this increases your reach.

  3. Host an event

    Promote healthy vision in your neighborhood. Host an event to meet with people and educate them about healthy vision and its importance, treatments, and more.

5 Facts About Vision That You Didn’t Know

  1. No way to transplant eyeballs, yet

    Doctors have not yet discovered a way to transplant an eyeball as the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain is too sensitive to reconstruct.

  2. No tears for babies

    Newborn babies have no tears when they cry and tears only begin to appear after four to 13 weeks.

  3. Millions of blind people

    Approximately 39 million people in the world are blind and six times that amount are impaired visually.

  4. Eyes with different colors

    Some people are born with each of their eyes a different color, a condition known as heterochromia.

  5. Blindspot

    Our eyes have a blind spot in the back of the retina that is not visible to us as both eyes work together to fill it in.

Why Healthy Vision Month Is Significant

  1. It stresses the importance of vision

    Without our vision, life would be extremely difficult. All that we see is what makes up our world. Healthy Vision Month stresses the importance of caring for our eyesight.

  2. It promotes proper treatment of vision

    Many people ignore minor issues in their eyesight. This can lead to major issues in the future. Healthy Vision Month is to encourage them to get their eyes checked out.

  3. Prioritize the eyes

    Healthy Vision Month is a celebration of the gift of eyesight. Thus, it educates people to prioritize their eyes and not ignore any possible signs of impairment.

Healthy Vision Month dates

YearDateDay
2024May 1Wednesday
2025May 1Thursday
2026May 1Friday
2027May 1Saturday
2028May 1Monday
Hurricane Preparedness Week
National Physical Education and Sport Week
Aces Day
Agriculture and Labor Day
Beltane
Blessing Day
Calan Mai
Couple Appreciation Day
CSS Reboot Day
Executive Coaching Day
Frequent Flyer Day
Global Love Day
Great American Grump Out
International Doodle Dog Day
International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day
Labor Day Philippines
Learn to Ride a Bike Day
Lei Day
Marshall Islands Constitution Day
May Day
Mother Goose Day
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day
National Chocolate Parfait Day
National Infertility Survival Day
National Interpreter Appreciation Day
National Loyalty Day
National Mantra Day
National Purebred Dog Day
National Rotate Your Beer Day
National Skilled Trades Day
National Skilled Trades Day
New Homeowners Day
Phone in Sick Day
Save The Rhino Day
School Principals' Day
Silver Star Banner Day
Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day
Worthy Wage Day
ALS Awareness Month
American Cheese Month
American Wetlands Month
Anxiety Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Awareness of Medical Orphans Month
Be Kind to Animals Month
Bealtaine Festival
Better Sleep Month
Better Speech and Hearing Month
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Building Safety Month
Celiac Awareness Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month
Clean Air Month
Community Action Month
Correct Posture Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Date Your Mate Month
Deck Safety Month
EDS Awareness Month
Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
Food Allergy Action Month
Fungal Infection Awareness Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month
Get Caught Reading Month
Gifts From The Garden Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Heal the Children Month
Healthy Vision Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Homeschool Awareness Month
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
Indian Heritage Month
Internal Audit Awareness Month
International Business Image Improvement Month
International Civility Awareness Month
International Drum Month
International Respect for Chickens Month
International Victorious Woman Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Labor History Month
Latino Books Month
Leaders of Tomorrow Month
Lettuce Month
Local and Community History Month
Lung Health Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Make May Purple /Action On Stroke Month
Maternal Mental Health Month
May Measurement Month
MCS Awareness Month
Meditation Month
Mediterranean Diet Month
Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Military Appreciation Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
National Asparagus Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Barbecue Month
National Bicycle Safety Month
National Blood Pressure Month
National Chocolate Custard Month
National Comfort Month
National Digestive Disease Awareness Month
National Duckling Month
fried egg on national egg month
National Egg Month
National Foster Care Month
National Hamburger Month
National Heritage Month
National Inventors Month
a nurse on National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Moving Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Pet Month
National Photography Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Preservation Month
National Prom Graduation Safety Month
National Recommitment Month
National Salad Month
National Salsa Month
National San Architect Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
National Share a Story Month
National Show Your Smile Month
National Sight-Saving Month
National Strawberry Month
National Teen Self-Esteem Month
National Tennis Month
National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month
National Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Vinegar Month
National Walking Month
National Youth Traffic Safety Month
Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month
Neurofibromatosis Month
Older Americans Month
Personal History Awareness Month
Pet Sitter Safety Month
REACT Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Revise Your Work Schedule Month
Small Business Month
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
Steelmark Month
Strike Out Strokes Month
Stroke Awareness Month
Syringomyelia Awareness Month
Teen CEO Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
Ultraviolet Awareness Month
Women's Health Month
Zombie Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.