World Sight Day, celebrated annually on the second Thursday of October, is an event designed to raise awareness of blindness and visual impairment.
According to the WHO, there are at least 2.2 billion cases of visual impairment or blindness in the world, and more than 1 billion of them are the result of a lack of prevention or treatment.
Visual impairment carries a colossal financial burden on the economies of countries: the annual global losses from the decrease in labor productivity caused by them are estimated at the level of 411 billion dollars. USA.
Vision loss occurs at any age, but people over 50 years of age suffer more from vision impairment and blindness.
There is a whole series of health, prophylactic, treatment and rehabilitation measures that allow solving the urgent problems of combating eye diseases and vision disorders.
Many cases of vision loss (in particular, caused by infections, injuries, unsafe use of traditional medicine methods, perinatal diseases, diseases related to nutrition, improper use of topical drugs or self-medication) are preventable, but this is not always possible.
With many eye diseases, in particular diabetic retinopathy, timely detection and treatment of pathology are crucial to prevent irreversible vision loss.
The most cost-effective medical interventions include correction of refractive errors with the help of glasses and surgical treatment of cataracts.
However, only 36% of people in the world who suffer from visual impairment due to refractive errors are able to wear the glasses they need, and only 17% of people who suffer from visual impairment or blindness due to cataracts have been able to receive quality surgical care.
Many eye conditions that usually do not cause visual impairment but cause discomfort and pain are also treated, including dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis, and blepharitis. Treatment for these diseases is aimed at alleviating symptoms and preventing complications.
Rehabilitation measures are extremely effective in improving the quality of life of people who suffer from irreversible vision loss caused by diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, the effects of injuries or age-related macular degeneration.
But prevention is better than treatment! Eye health is an important part of your overall health.
So follow these simple recommendations from the Public Health Center Public Health Center of Ukraine to preserve your vision:
Check your visual acuity regularly. A visit to an ophthalmologist is the only way to ensure eye health. Many eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, often have no early warning signs. Consult a specialist if you notice any changes in visual acuity.
Control your blood sugar. Untimely treatment of diabetes can cause complications in the form of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts, which lead to blindness.
Learn about your family's eye health history. Some eye diseases can be hereditary.
Maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight and obese increases the risk of developing diabetes and other diseases that can lead to vision loss. If you're having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your family doctor.
Wear safety glasses during certain activities, such as sports and construction work. Most safety glasses lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. You can also buy them in some sporting goods stores.
Stop using tobacco and alcohol. Smoking is just as bad for the eyes as it is for the rest of the body. Research has linked tobacco use to an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage, which can lead to blindness.
Tobacco smoke also contributes to dry eye syndrome. Refrain from drinking alcohol, because it dehydrates the body, and large doses in general can cause toxic amblyopia - a significant deterioration of vision.
Wear sunglasses. Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses, even on cloudy days. Be sure to look for ones that block 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation. Remember that ultraviolet light can contribute to the development of cataracts and damage the cornea of the eye.
Give your eyes a rest. Sitting for a long time at the computer or "stuck" in gadgets can tire your eyes. So give your eyes a break by taking a break every 20 minutes and looking at objects up to 20 meters away for 20 seconds (the so-called "20-20-20" exercise ).
If you wear contact lenses, prevent eye infections. Always wash your hands before using or removing contact lenses. Be sure to disinfect contact lenses and replace them regularly.
Follow the rules of eye safety in the workplace. Employers are obliged to ensure safe working conditions. If your work requires safety glasses, make it a habit to always wear them and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Eat healthy food. Have you heard that carrots are good for the eyes? To maintain eye health, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is important, especially healthy leafy greens (spinach, lettuce, broccoli). Studies have also shown that eating fish high in Omega-3, such as salmon or tuna, is good for eye health.
Oksana Kuninets
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