Eye care, vision impairment and blindness

 

Overview

The eye is the most beautiful and important thing in the whole life. But nowadays, eye problems are common from childhood. Eye disorders are extremely prevalent. People who live long enough will eventually get at least one eye problem.

At least 1 billion people worldwide suffer from close or distance visual impairments that could have been avoided or are still untreated. Reduced or missing vision can have long-term personal and financial repercussions if it is not detected in a timely manner. People of various ages are affected by vision impairment, although most are over 50. In addition to lowering scholastic attainment in young children, early onset severe vision impairment frequently lowers productivity, lowers workforce engagement, and increases rates of depression in adults.

Blindness and visual impairment affect people's lives everywhere. Due to limited access to the most basic eye care services, the burden of visual impairment may be considerably more severe in low- and middle-income environments.

Although uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts are thought to be the main causes of visual impairment, other factors also play a role. Infectious infections of the eye, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, long-term systemic conditions like diabetes that cause diabetic retinopathy, and eye trauma are all equally significant causes of vision impairment that require attention. 

Prevention

Congenital and acquired eye disorders, myopia, ocular trauma, and ocular infections and inflammations are among the eye conditions that can be successfully addressed with preventive measures. Children's preventative lifestyle modifications, such as spending more time outside and reducing activities close to the workplace, are a good illustration of this. This lowers the chance of developing high myopia and associated problems later in life by delaying the development and slowing the evolution of myopia.

Crucially, the risk of ocular disorders can be decreased by preventing and treating systemic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. The risk of corneal opacities that may develop as a result of measles, rubella, and vitamin A deficiency can also be significantly decreased by measures to avoid these diseases through vitamin A supplementation and vaccination.

Another example is the promotion of the use of protective eye gear (such as masks, protective goggles, visors, etc.) during high-risk occupations and activities (such as construction workers, welders, certain sports, and agricultural activities).

Treatment

Even though there are efficient treatments for the two main causes of visual impairment—optical correction for refractive problems and cataract surgery—there is still a significant unmet need for care. In addition to contact lenses and refractive surgery, spectacles are the most widely utilised solution for correcting refractive error worldwide. Both cataract surgery and spectacles are quite affordable treatments that can significantly raise a person's quality of life.

In order to manage the course of many eye disorders, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, pterygium, amblyopia, strabismus, and retinopathy of prematurity, treatment and care must be provided over an extended period of time. Commonly occurring acute eye disorders that do not usually result in visual impairment but nevertheless cause pain and discomfort in people's lives, such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and dry eye, also need to be treated. The care of these eye disorders is frequently focused on addressing the underlying cause or reducing the symptoms in order to avoid more complications.

Rehabilitative measures are necessary for vision impairment that cannot be reversed or repaired, and there are a number of them available. Mobility training using white canes and digital assistive devices, along with braille reading, counselling, and home skills training, can guarantee free, autonomous, and secure mobility for those who are blind or visually impaired.