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When William Shakespeare said, "The eyes are the window to the soul," he emphasized the significance of eyes and their power to reveal the depths of one's innermost thoughts, feelings, and character. Indeed, our eyes are the windows that allow us to see the world's beauty, understand unspoken emotions, and form connections beyond words. They reveal the human spirit's weakness as well as its resilience. However, India is currently experiencing a problem related to eye health. Over 1.1 billion people globally and 70 million Indians suffer from sight loss. According to estimates, 30 per cent of these people also see a decline in their livelihoods due to poor vision. Nevertheless, 90 per cent of sight loss is preventable with early diagnosis and treatment, safeguarding the people's future wages and completely changing their lives.
Most common vision problems in India
Vision impairment affects persons of all ages, with the majority of them above the age of 50. A significant vision impairment that develops in early age can negatively affect a child's academic performance. In adults, it can lead to low productivity, reduced employment opportunities, and elevated rates of depression, all of which can negatively impact quality of life. Uncorrected refractive error, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, adult trachoma, and corneal scarring are the most prevalent causes of vision impairment.
Cataract remains the most significant cause of blindness in India, with a number of critical factors contributing to its high prevalence. The ageing population, together with greater life expectancy, emphasizes cataracts' link with age-related diseases. Furthermore, research such as the Indian Council of Medical Research-UVR study has linked a high prevalence to long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The Covid-19 epidemic has exacerbated the situation, delaying treatment goals and exacerbating awareness and accessibility issues, particularly in remote places. Addressing these challenges requires not only increasing awareness of available treatments but also improving access to treatment facilities, particularly in underserved areas where cataract surgery rates vary significantly between states, emphasizing the critical need for tailored interventions and specialized facilities.
Despite the availability of a cost-effective solution in the form of cataract surgery, several impediments prevent the country's services from being updated. The biggest challenges to the uptake of cataract surgery include the expense, availability and quality of service, poor accessibility, and lack of escort during travel and operations.
Enhanced screen time creating problems
In a screen-dominated society, our average daily screen time has doubled to 7-8 hours. Because of this, eye disorders, including dry eye, computer vision syndrome and digital eye strain, are worse than before. These ailments, typified by redness, watering, itching, headaches, and exhaustion, seriously impair occupational productivity and leads to loss of pay. It also causes anxiety and mental health issues in people working in the IT industry. Remarkably, 47 per cent of workers reported headaches and fatigue, while 65 per cent experienced eye strain and visual issues. There is a global epidemic of digital eye strain, and 70 million people are susceptible to computer vision syndrome.
Awareness is the key
To avoid blindness and other eye-related diseases, we must priorities eye care. It's time to incorporate preventative practices into our everyday routines to protect our long-term vision. Given the complexity of our eyes, it is critical to understand their operation and the elements that influence them. Regular eye exams, sufficient eye protection, and healthy habits such as a balanced diet are all important steps to maintaining good eye health. Let us commit to these behaviors to keep our eyes healthy and functional for years to come.
India’s eye-technology revolution
India today leads the world in eye care, offering cutting-edge technology for surgeries related to glaucoma, cataracts, retina, and refractive errors. Our surgeons are highly skilled and meet worldwide standards. India is using state-of-the-art technology to fight blindness and other conditions related to the eyes more successfully than in the past. For instance, most ophthalmologists no longer perform classic blade LASIK surgery. They have started using the bladeless LASIK, which does not require a microkeratome blade. This makes it a safer and more accurate procedure than traditional LASIK.
Furthermore, cutting-edge bladeless (Robotic) cataract surgery is transforming the course of care. With this laser technology, precise incisions may be made, lowering risks, improving safety and improving surgical accuracy. This technology has revolutionized the way cataract surgery is done and has the added advantage of making patients “spectacle free” after cataract surgery.
Moreover, government programmes and private sector efforts are working together to bring cutting-edge eye care and technology to rural communities, with a special emphasis on women and children.
Conclusion
Our capacity to make a living depends heavily on our eyes, so losing them can significantly impact our personal and professional lives. According to a global study conducted by Prof. Kevin Frick of Johns Hopkins University and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), enhancing eye health might increase India's GDP by $27 billion yearly. That's why it's so important to take care of any eye-related problems as soon as they arise by consulting the closest ophthalmologist. India is ready to embrace the latest innovations in eye care, having previously demonstrated proficiency and a commitment to further development. With a firm basis in the use of cutting-edge-technology, the country is poised to continue its success in improving eye health services, ensuring that its citizens receive world-class care and remain at the forefront of global eye care innovation.
(Author is an eye surgeon, (LASIK & retina specialist), and director, Surya Eye)
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