According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 285 million people living with visual impairment, the majority of which is due to chronic eye diseases. What is most concerning is that 80% of visual impairment could be avoided if it were diagnosed and treated in time.

Apart from the obvious devastating impact of not being able to see, there are many other reasons why making sure we all have our eyes checked regularly can avoid unnecessary suffering. People with visual impairment are less likely to be employed, and more likely to be involved in a motor collision, to suffer from depression and anxiety and even merely to fall while walking.

Common causes of visual impairment

In addition to uncorrected refractive errors, which may be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery, the most common cause of both visual impairment and blindness is cataracts. Other causes include glaucoma, acute macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetes.

A cataract leads to the clouding of the lens of the eye, which prevents clear vision. Most often, it is related to ageing. Visual impairment and blindness caused by cataracts can be cured with a surgical procedure where the cataract is removed and replaced with an artificial lens.

Glaucoma is a group of diseases in which the optic nerve – the nerve that carries visual signals from the eye to the brain – is damaged. Glaucoma may run in families and there are usually no symptoms, except a slow and progressive loss of vision that ultimately ends in irreversible blindness. If the disease is diagnosed early, however, glaucoma can be treated and blindness can be avoided.

AMD is the third leading cause of blindness behind cataracts and glaucoma. Degeneration of the retina at the back of the eye progressively leads to blindness. Like glaucoma, it tends to run in families and becomes more common with age, but unlike glaucoma and cataracts, there is no definitive cure for AMD. Nevertheless, if detected early enough, it can be treated and the progression of the disease can be delayed.

Although all eye conditions do not necessarily impair vision, they can nevertheless have a massive impact on daily life. Dry eye is a growing problem and one of the most frequent reasons why people seek eye care. The symptoms, which can include irritation, watery eyes, burning, stinging, itching, aversion to bright light, blurry vision, redness, and eye fatigue can have a massive impact on daily life. Symptoms are often made worse by activities that require sustained eye contact, such as reading or using the computer, and from exposure to cigarette smoke, air drafts from a fan or air conditioner, or where humidity is low.

It’s not surprising that dry eye significantly affects common activities like working, watching TV and driving. Because there are a lot of different causes of dry eye, it is sensible to consult a healthcare provider for a thorough assessment and diagnosis. However, especially where symptoms are mild, simply avoiding things that worsen symptoms and using appropriate lubricating eye drops (with advice from your health care professional) can provide relief.

How you can look after your eyes

Get your eyes checked regularly (at least once a year) and especially if you have any of the following symptoms: 

  • Inflamed (red) eyes;
  • Loss of vision;
  • Pain in the eye;
  • Bulging eye; and/or
  • Altered eye movement.

Know your family’s history of eye disease. If you have a history of eye disease in your family, or are over 40 years of age, you may need to have your eyes properly examined more regularly.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthily and get regular exercise! Eye-healthy foods include fruit and vegetables, and fish, such as salmon, tuna and halibut.

Don’t smoke! And avoid second-hand smoke.

Wear protective eyewear when playing sport or when your eyes may be exposed to injury.

Wear dark glasses when going out into the sun. Look for glasses that block out 99% to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Rest your eyes frequently. Take regular breaks (at least every 20 minutes) from reading or looking at the computer. Don’t forget to blink.

Watch your hygiene! Be careful not to touch or rub your eyes with dirty hands. Always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses and replace them as necessary.

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