Page 61 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition September-October 2021
P. 61
There is urgency here as myopia is on a rapid
rise worldwide. The World Health Organization
(WHO) has projected that half of the world’s
population will become myopic by 2050, if the
current trend continues. Today, the problem
is more pronounced than ever before, with
teaching online as schools have been closed due
to the pandemic.
With 80% of learning dependent on seeing,
it is important that children have good visual
performance to benefit from the teaching
process. Conditions such as Amblyopia, Optometrists in hospitals can screen personnel
suppression and other binocular vision and their family members. Optometry colleges
problems which lead to learning and hand- can organise community eye screenings
eye coordination disorders are often missed if and tie up with NGOs to examine the
children don’t have eye tests. underprivileged.
For adults too, vision plays an important OCI has offered its partners creative posters
role in terms of their work and productivity. and materials for their initiatives, and will
People above the age of 40 have near vision acknowledge optometrists who increase
issues, coupled with systemic diseases such screenings with badges, certificate and
as diabetes and hypertension. Most systemic trophies. Many optometrists have already
diseases affect visual performance and therefore expressed their interest. OCI has also received
the role of the optometrist is crucial in terms support from organisations such as Aravind
of creating awareness, early detection and Eye Care Systems, Sankara Nethralaya, Vision
appropriate referral. 2020 India, and many private practitioners.
In view of Covid-19 all hygiene and other OCI is also working on creating myopia
protocols will need to be taken during the WSD awareness through policy changes and has
screening programmes. Following OCI’s simple submitted a “Myopia White Paper” to the
guidelines can still help achieve the target set Government of India.
for screenings. At the outset optometrists can
screen their own family members and friends. Among its other initiatives, OCI will soon be
Private practitioners can screen relatives of releasing an awareness film on myopia and
patients, and initiate community screening interventions to prevent myopic progression.
and organise camps in gated communities. A few partners have joined hands with OCI
to provide bookmarks with eye care tips for
children that can be distributed to parents.
OCI has a membership of 5000 optometrists
across India as well as volunteers who work
with the organisation. The Council also partners
with many NGOs and other organisations to
provide eye screening as well as spectacles free
of cost to the needy. Among these: Drishyam
– the gift of sight, a collaborative venture to
conduct school and community screenings;
The Experience Vision Project, a CSR initiative
of Bausch + Lomb India for screening school
children; and screenings for truck drivers,
school bus drivers, and most recently, farmers.
57| WORLD SIGHT DAY
