The most cost-effective measures are correction of refractive errors with glasses and cataract surgery. WHO: almost half of cases of visual impairment can be prevented or corrected Healthcare
Today is World Sight Day. Every year on the second Thursday of October, this date reminds of the importance of taking care of eye health and preventing diseases that lead to vision loss.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from near or far vision impairment, and in at least a billion of these people the problems could have been prevented or mitigated.
The leading causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide Refractive errors and cataracts remain. However, only 36 percent of people with distance vision loss due to refractive errors and 17 percent of people with cataracts have access to needed medical care.
Vision loss is a global problem
Visual impairment has a profound impact on a person’s life, from childhood development to working age and old age. Children with visual impairments face learning difficulties, adults face limitations in employment and an increased risk of depression, and older adults face social isolation and risk of injury.
WHO estimates that lost productivity due to vision loss costs $411 billion annually worldwide. This is 16 times the amount of funding that is not enough to provide ophthalmological care to everyone in need.
Vision as the basis of quality of life
Vision is a key sense that determines the quality of human life. Its loss makes even the simplest activities difficult – reading, studying, working and moving independently.
The WHO notes that almost every person experiences eye disease during their lifetime and needs timely ophthalmological care. Common problems include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, as well as presbyopia, an age-related decline in near vision that affects more than 826 million people. assistance
In many low- and middle-income countries, the proportion of people with visual impairments is significantly higher than in high-income countries. This is due to limited access to medical care and lack of awareness about the prevention of eye diseases.
WHO emphasizes that the most cost-effective measures are correction of refractive errors with glasses and surgical treatment cataracts.
Prevention and rehabilitation
Many cases of vision loss can be prevented through preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitation measures, including timely detection of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and others diseases.
Rehabilitation programs help people with irreversible vision loss adapt and maintain quality of life.
WHO calls on countries around the world to strengthen national health systems, increase access to eye care services and educate the public about the importance of regular check-ups vision.