PREVENTABLE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

How would you feel if you woke up one day and found out that you suddenly have lost your sight? especially in the poorest countries in the world. Preventable blindness is blindness which could either be treated or prevented by non expensive means. According to WHO, 80% of blindness is avoidable because it either occurred from a condition that could have been abated with timely intervention or can be treated successfully and sight restored. Despite progress in developed countries to tackle preventable blindness, by developing and improving means (surgery and drug administration) to deal with the causes of preventable visual impairment, there has still been increased cases of preventable blindness,most especially in sub Saharan Africa.

This is due to a burgeoning population and aging. Main causes of visual impatient according to a 2002 survey by the WHO includes: cataract (12.3%), glaucoma (12.3%), corneal opacities (5.1%), diabetic retionpathy (4.8%), Childhood blindness (3.9%), trachoma (3.6%) and onchocerciasis (0.8%). There are existing effective means for the eradication of the above mentioned causes of preventable blindness and that makes up the target for the WHO Global Initiative to Eliminate Avoidable blindness, VISION 2020. Cataract, onchocerciasis and trachoma have received the most attention in the already existing intervention programs, with trachoma being the lead cause of infectious blindness around the whole world.

The effect of visual impairment, leaves members in need of vocational and social support. The vision 2020 which will involve a coalition of international communities aims to solve the problem of Preventable blindness through the following ways;

Disease prevention and control

Use of appropriate and affordable technology

Strengthening the existing eye care infrastructure

Mobilization of resources and training of personnel

Collaborating with ministries of health to train health care workers

Screening and treating of diabetic retinopathy

Improved access to cataract and glaucoma services

Combating vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition

Awareness and enlightenment programs that emphasize the need to care for the eyes and the consumption of foods that improve eye health are also feasible means of combating preventable blindness. We all have a 'RIGHT TO SIGHT'.