While there is still a long way to go when it comes to eye health, the number of people visually impaired from infectious diseases, however, has greatly reduced in the last 20 years. World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. Eyes are one of the most important organs of sense in our body. We perceive up to 80 per cent of all impressions by means of our sight.
As vital this organ is to everybody, the estimates coming out from various studies imply that there is still a lack of awareness about eye health. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) Prevention of Blindness and Deafness Programme:
• About 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision (severe or moderate visual impairment)
• About 90 per cent of the world's visually impaired people live in developing countries
• Globally, uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of visual impairment
• Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness
• 65 per cent of visually impaired, and 82 per cent of blind people are over 50 years of age, although this age group comprises only 20 per cent of the world population
• Top causes of visual impairment: refractive errors, cataracts and glaucoma
• Top causes of blindness: cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration
While there is still a long way to go when it comes to eye health, the number of people visually impaired from infectious diseases, however, has greatly reduced in the last 20 years.
Here are four you can do to have a better eye health:
1. Eat healthy
Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.
2. Quit smoking
Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts, damage to your optic nerve, and macular degeneration.
3. Give your eyes a break from the computer screen
Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause eyestrain, blurry vision, trouble focusing at a distance, dry eyes, headaches, etc.
4. Regular visit to an eye doctor
Everyone needs a regular eye exam, even young children. It helps protect your sight and lets you see your best.
