The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), an apex industry organisation, sponsored a webinar on ‘Managing Eye Care’ as part of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ campaign; this also happens to be Low Vision Awareness Month in February. The major goal of the event was to raise awareness about how to prevent low vision difficulties, eye-related serious diseases, and blindness, as well as how to preserve general good vision throughout one’s life.
Throwing light on the rising issue of low vision in India, (Padma Shri) Dr. (Prof) A. K. Grover, Chairman, Vision Eye Centres & Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said that the process of seeing is a gift of nature and the most structural and functional marvel organ in the body. He added, “The human eye has a resolution of 375-mega pixels. It’s a natural camera with a peripheral vision and it transfers the message to the brain to figure out the colours, movements etc.”
He went on to say that the cataract is the most common cause of blindness in India, and that diabetes is to be blamed for the massive number of damaged eyes. Other causes are corneal opacities, cataract surgical complications (including PCO), diseases of retina and glaucoma. The data shows that even though the rate of blindness has decreased through sustained efforts through the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB) have decreased the prevalence of blindness, a whole lot more needs to be done. “In India, one out of every 50 people over the age of 50 is blind,” he said, adding that the government has made ongoing efforts in collaboration with non-government organisations, but primary eye-care in rural areas remains a challenge. To maintain perfect eye vision, a person should consume antioxidants, fruits, and vegetables, eat a balanced diet, and exercise.
Shri Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, in his welcome address, said, “Good vision contributes to our improved physical abilities, learning and comprehension skills and a better quality of life. Therefore, keeping an eye on your vision health is undoubtedly an essential component of good health and overall wellness.’’
Highlighting the ill effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eyes of the children, he said, “The switch to digital learning over the last two years has led to young students staying indoors and spending longer hours in front of their TVs, IPads and mobiles. Therefore, having a balanced diet, along with adequate lighting in the room while studying, correct sitting posture, controlled screen time and regular eye exercises are key points to be kept in mind for maintaining healthy eyes among children.”
Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control, Delhi–NCR moderated the session. He said, ‘’Eyes are our window to the world – it’s only because of our eyes that we can perceive all the beauty of this world. Conversely, eyes are also a window to our body – by looking inside your eyes doctors can figure out a lot that is happening inside your body”.
According to Dr. Subina Narang, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, diabetes has reached pandemic proportions in India due to a sedentary lifestyle. Diabetics should undergo routine eye exams every 3-6 months, as prescribed by an ophthalmologist, to detect and treat the illness before any vision loss develops. Around 27% of people with diabetes had retinopathy at the time of their diagnosis. After 45 minutes of reading, she recommends taking a 15-minute break for eye relaxation.
Dr. Reena M Choudhry, Director, (Sankara Nethralaya) Glaucoma Services, Senior Consultant Glaucoma and Cataract Services & Chief Operating Officer, ICARE Eye Hospital and PG Institute, Noida, motivated the audience with an eye organ transplant theory and how it works. People can reach out to the nearest national helpline of Eye Bank Association of India after the demise and can donate the eyes that can help two people at once, she added.
