2023-12-26 07:30:20
This is how you can protect your eyesight from blindness
Statistics from the World Health Organization stated that 70% of people around the world who need medical glasses cannot obtain them, according to what was stated in the context of a televised episode of “Science in five“, presented by Vismita Gupta Smith and broadcast by the World Health Organization on its official platforms, which hosted Dr. Stuart Keil, a vision correction expert at the World Health Organization, to talk regarding the main causes of blindness around the world and who are the groups most at risk, in addition to how to protect eyesight. .
Major causes of blindness
One of the leading causes of blindness is cataracts, which is the opacity of the lens inside the eye resulting in increasingly blurred vision over time, Dr. Keel said. The second main cause of poor vision and blindness is what is called refractive error, the most common types of which are nearsightedness, or the inability to see at a distance, or farsightedness, which is the inability to see up close.
Refractive error is caused by the abnormal shape or length of the eyeball, which means that light entering the eye is not focused correctly on the back of the eye, called the retina.
The other leading causes of blindness worldwide are the result of damage to the back of the eye, including glaucoma, where there is gradual damage to the nerve located at the back of the eye, leading to distortion of peripheral vision. In more severe cases, central vision can also be affected.
The main causes also include age-related macular degeneration, a deterioration of the cells in the center of the retina, called the macula, distorting central vision, and leading to problems with color vision and other problems.
The list also includes eye disease Diabeteswhich often affects diabetics because there is leakage in the vessels in the back of the eye, which can cause some swelling, some bleeding, and scarring, which can also affect vision.
Most at risk
Dr. Keel added that anyone is at risk of blindness, but certain segments of the population are more at risk than others. The first segment includes older people and eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, the risks of which increase sharply with age to the point that regarding 80% of vision loss occurs in people aged 50 and over.
There is also the element of having a strong family history of eye diseases. If there is a family member, especially a mother or father, who suffers from certain eye diseases, such as glaucoma, refractive error, nearsightedness, or farsightedness, then the person is more susceptible to developing these diseases.
Lifestyle and health status
Dr. Keel went on to say that there are certain lifestyle factors, including, for example, many other health conditions, as smoking is a risk factor for developing cataracts as well as macular degeneration.
He noted that there are some underlying health conditions and medications that can also increase the risk of eye diseases, such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis, and that prolonged use of steroids is also linked to the development of eye diseases, such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
The Good News
Dr. Keel said that the good news is that the majority of cases of visual impairment caused by these diseases can be avoided through early detection or recognition and treatment, so the most important element is regular eye examinations, which he recommends doing at least every two years. , especially with age, especially in those populations that are more at risk and can need more frequent eye examinations.
Ways to protect eyesight
Dr. Keel added that there are a number of measures that can be taken to protect sight and eyes from the development of these diseases, the most important of which is limiting exposure to ultraviolet rays by using sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when the person is in exposed areas outside the home. Of course, goggles should be worn when using chemicals to protect the eyes from injury as well.
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