Preventable blindness cases rising in Malaysia

ACCORDING to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, preventable or avoidable blindness is described as blindness that can either be treated or avoided through known, cost-effective means. It is responsible for 75% of visual impairment cases in the world. Common causes of preventable blindness are cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma.

While there are many causes that contribute to preventable blindness, not many are aware that these types of diseases can be prevented. Thus, what kind of precautions should one take to avoid going blind?

If you get an eye infection, it is best that you undergo an eye checkup. Never wait till it’s too late as you don’t know what may happen to your vision. Always take preventative and protective measures in situations that can cause eye injuries. If you work with machines or chemicals, put on protective eyegear. Women who are looking to get pregnant should be vaccinated against rubella as contracting rubella when pregnant can lead to the foetus developing congenital cataracts.

Local support

Many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Malaysia are associated with helping the blind and have been monumental in spreading awareness about preventable and non-preventable blindness.

According to Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) general manager George Thomas, NGOs sometimes collaborate with private companies and eye hospitals to organise events such as free eye screenings in primary schools to detect vision impairments and prevent early vision loss in children. He adds that MAB also provides eye screenings for people in rural areas who might not have access to healthcare.

Thomas shares that MAB has received positive responses from the public regarding its efforts in raising awareness of preventable blindness, especially from people in rural areas.

Efforts in raising awareness

While certain NGOs do their best to educate the public on preventable blindness, Thomas says he feels their efforts would be more impactful with increased support from the Government, in terms of reach and efficacy of treatment.

Free eye screenings at hospitals and public schools are among the initiatives already in place, but Thomas mentions how raising awareness and educating even more people on eye health and preventable blindness can be done by extending existing efforts to secondary schools, universities and far-flung villages.

Thomas also explains that eye care is not prioritised as much as other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and a few types of cancer as those are among the top causes of death in the country. However, he opines that the Government should pay more attention to eye care as while it is not fatal, the number of patients affected by preventable blindness is increasing.

Thomas urges everyone to start taking care of their eyes and undergo regular check-ups. His advice is to not wait till it’s too late to see a doctor, because prevention is better than a cure. Those above 40 years old should attend eye screenings at least once a year. He also advises parents to pay attention to their children’s vision so preventative measures can be taken to avoid early vision impairment, as being declared legally blind does not only involve total blindness.