In a presentation, Dr Addy said that the day has been set aside to create awareness on avoidable blindness with a focus on the same theme "Universal Eye Health" since 2014. Their aim, he said, is to ensure access to comprehensive eye care service which is sufficient and efficient and at the same time affordable.

 He said that four out of five blindness cases are avoidable, an indication that blindness can be prevented. About 124 million people have uncorrected refraction error with about 89 per cent of visually impaired people living in low and middle income areas. He added that Ghana has a prevalence rate of 0.7 per cent and about 1.2 billion people around the world are in need of glasses.

The Top causes of blindness are cataract, glaucoma, aging, childhood blindness, diabetes, retinopathy, low visual refractive error among others.

The projects that the Eye Care Unit has embarked on, according to Dr Addy, show a reduction in cases of eye problems but Ghana is still yet to attain the minimum level needed.

Dr Samuel Kaba, Director of Institutional Eye Care Division of the Ghana Health Service, in an interview said that the annual event is mainly to create awareness and mobilize funds to deal with the problems associated with eye care as well as recognize those who have helped people with eye diseases.

He said that 2 weeks ago, the National Cataract Program was launched and  currently,  free Cataract Surgeries to treat people with the disease are being held. He said that cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Ghana followed by glaucoma and urged the media to help create awareness .

Dr Kaba said that now that life expectancy has increased,sight difficulties due to age which mostly begins at 40 must be worked on in order to prevent this. "There is the need for lifestyle changes in order to improve eye health as people age" he pointed out.

Mr Eric Owusu Gyimah, CEO of Kog Kriationz Network, said that the collaboration is aimed at helping reduce the rate of blindness in the country. He said that about 0.74 per cent of Ghanaians are blind and said awareness creation is necessary due to the fact that over 80 per cent of the causes of blindness or eye diseases is preventable. He also urged assisting the vulnerable in society with projects which will help cater for the cost of eye treatment and thus reduce problems associated with eye health. Kog Kriationz Network embarks on child eye care support projects. The award scheme also awarded individuals and institutions who have worked hard in the eye health sector.

Awardees included Operation Universal Eyesight, Spintex Chemist, Dr Asenso Antwi (Best Optician),Dr Issac Boamah (Best Optometrist) as well as Dr Samuel Kaba, Director of Institutional Eye Care Division of the Ghana Health Service, among many others.