World sight day - 2024
The world wide observed every year as World sight day . We on this day shed light on some of the important aspects of this wonderful organ which literally lights up our world .
Theme for the Year
This year the theme is Love your eyes and focus area is eye sight and eye health of our children with the advent of technology and visual media , currently the way our children get educated have moved a lot from print media to visual media like lighted screens and laptops . The old modes of recreation like reading and outdoor physical activities are largely replaced by mobiles and play stations . This has led to a greater incidence of refractive errors ( spectacle powers ) , digital eye strain , migraines and also general concerns like obesity and lack of social interactions.
It’s been estimated that myopia or short sight would be the new pandemic with more than 50 % of our children ending up with glasses by year 2040 . It’s time that parents , paediatricians , and most importantly school teachers ( considering the child spends maximum active waking hours in school) consciously observe the child’s visual behaviour and get regular eye examinations to rule out any eye diseases. The first eye examination is recommended as early as preschool age of around 4 years and then annual examinations must be conducted. Research shows that 70 percent of learning happens from visual stimulation. If a child is not performing well in school or facing any awkwardness in forming good interpersonal relationships, a hidden visual dysfunction should be suspected as often an eye problem is not obvious.
Other eye problems in children are Pediatric cataracts , squints , eye allergies , amblyopia ( lazy eye ) lacrimal gland disorders , rare eye cancers. October is also blindness awareness month . Be it an adult or a child , eye care is a universal requirement . And most of the eye problems like cataract , glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy which lead to blindness are silent , painless and paradoxically not visible outside . Hence , regular screening of eyes , early detection and apt treatment is the only way to ensure good vision lifelong .
