To see or not to see ...

Vision loss is a major public health concern that significantly affects South Africa, as it does most other developing countries.

Vision loss (visual impairment and blindness) is a major public health concern worldwide. It has a negative impact on the quality of life, employment opportunities and the socioeconomic status of affected individuals.

It also increases depression and anxiety in the elderly. In children, vision loss affects motor skills and emotional development, self-image, academic progress, and social skills and the ability to form healthy relationships.

These challenges place an extreme burden on the country’s healthcare systems as well as affecting productivity and economic development.

Recent scientific data estimates that about 253million people in the world have vision loss, 36-million of whom are blind, with 217million having moderate or severe visual impairment.

Uncorrected refractive errors (49%) and cataracts (26%) are the principal causal factors of vision loss globally.

Vision loss is affected by gender, age and socioeconomic status, with a higher incidence among woman (55%), adults older than 50 years (80%) and people living in developing countries (90%).

Non-modifiable risk factors of vision loss are age, genetic predisposition (glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa) and ethnicity (Africans have an increased risk of developing glaucoma than Caucasians).

Modifiable risk factors are mainly lifestyle (smoking increases the risk of cataracts and rapid progression of agerelated macular degeneration) and nutrition (lack of vitamin A can lead to xerophthalmia/ night blindness).

The life expectancy of the global population has increased over the years due to better health care, with an increase in the geriatric population. Structural and physiological changes in the aged predispose adults to ocular morbidity such as presbyopia, cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

An annual eye examination is recommended by your GP in addition to your general medical examination, and chronic care should you be suffering from hypertension, diabetes or other chronic illness.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet is recommended.

You should limit alcohol consumption, and smoking is taboo.