WHO warns: 250 million people in the world have vision disorders. What is a warning sign?

Although we associate vision disorders mainly with older people, they often also affect very young people. In over 80 percent cases, these problems could be prevented or treated effectively with early diagnosis. Early diagnosis can even protect us from vision loss, so prevention in this matter is extremely important.

More than 250 million people worldwide have visual impairment

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that over 250 million people in the world suffer from vision disorders. It also turns out that up to half of the population of our country aged 16-54 may face this problem. This includes lack of proper vision and other diseases related to the organ of vision.

“If an ophthalmological problem occurs, we should react as quickly as possible and make follow-up appointments at least once every two years. The development of civilization brings us many benefits, but also more and more situations that are not favorable to our eyes. We operate on increasingly younger patients due to cataracts, and the same happens in the case of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It used to mainly concern patients over 65 years of age, but now younger people are starting to fight the disease,” explained Dr. Anna Wieczerska-Dec, an ophthalmologist from Municipal Hospital No. 4 in Gliwice, in an interview with PAP.

Early detection of the disease means more effective treatment

Adults should have their eyesight checked by an ophthalmologist at least once every two years. Such prevention is very important because it helps detect the disease early and, consequently, enables effective treatment. If a person is at high risk of developing glaucoma, he or she should have an eye examination at least once a year or more often.

“A very disturbing warning sign is sudden loss of vision. A rapid deterioration of vision is the number one ophthalmological problem that needs to be clarified immediately,” explains Dr. Wieczerska-Dec. “There are diseases of the eye that progress secretly, are insidious and this condition can last for months. At some point, it turns out that the patient’s vision is much worse,” adds the expert.

Basic ophthalmological examinations take only a few minutes and are non-invasive, painless and safe. Performing regular eye examinations does not only apply to people wearing glasses or contact lenses, but to all adults. It should be remembered that eye diseases have recently become one of the diseases of civilization. Their occurrence is facilitated by, among others, frequent exposure to artificial lighting and long hours of work at the computer. This causes our eyesight to deteriorate.

How to take care of your eyes? Tips

The risk of eye diseases can be reduced by lifestyle changes. Among other things, you should:

• Take care of a healthy diet – choose products that are rich in lutein, which protects the retinal capillaries (kale, spinach, blueberries, parsley, broccoli, zucchini), omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, mackerel and tuna), zinc, carotenoids and vitamins A, C and E.

• Practice regular physical activity (this improves blood circulation and its supply to all organs, including the vessels of the eye).

• Protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

• Take care of the hygiene of your work at the computer (proper lighting, appropriate distance from the monitor, taking a break after 30 minutes of work).