HYDERABAD: Lack of awareness and absence of easy access to corrective measures remain crucial factors responsible for this gap. It is absolutely necessary to educate people about the need for timely vision correction. Glaucoma is the one of the leading causes of blindness in the world, and belongs to a group of eye diseases that damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. It is sometimes called the “silent thief of sight.”
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness and the very common eye disease for people with diabetes. International Diabetes Federation reports that 74 percent of people who have diabetes for 10 years or more will develop some form of diabetic retinopathy. It could be prevented by early detection and appropriate intervention through periodic retina checkups.
Much like the periodic body health check-ups, regular eye check-ups can detect eye problems which could be sight threatening. One of the ways to increase awareness concerning eye and emphasise the importance of regular eye check-ups could be social media and awareness camps. World Sight Day provides a global moment to draw attention for action to make eye care for all a reality. The doctor is Sr Cataract & Refractive Surgeon, Maxivision Superspeciality Eye Hospitals