‘Cataract catching Indians young’

LUCKNOW : Recent research has shown that Indians develop cataract considerably earlier than their western counterparts, said Dr Shobhit Chawla and Dr Rajat Dhesi of Prakash Netra Kendra in a press statement on Friday.

This situation, they said, requires increased awareness about the signs of cataract and improved access to vision care services and cataract surgery in both rural and urban India.

Dr Chawla said, “Although traditionally cataract is known to affect older people, we have noticed a trend now where it is also affecting people at a younger age. Therefore, we have now started encouraging people to get regular eye checkups

done, especially if they are 40 and above.”

In addition to Conventional Intra Ocular lenses, people with cataract have advanced lens options available today such as Extended Range of Vision Intra Ocular Lens (ERV IOLs).

The doctors also highlighted the possible reasons for cataract affecting Indians at a younger age. Some of these are a deteriorating lifestyle and increasing stress levels.

India along with other WHO member countries has committed to the elimination of avoidable blindness by the year 2020.

This is part of the Vision 2020 goal, a joint programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).