Page 130 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition May-Junel 2022
P. 130
EXPOSURE TO IVI’S VISION SCREENINGS IN
DEEP RED LIGHT CHENNAI
CAN IMPROVE An India Vision Institute (IVI) screening campaign recently held in
EYE HEALTH association with Hoya Vision Care and Chennai Optical Association,
is benefiting 150 underprivileged women and 100 children from
A 3-minute morning exposure city orphanages. IVI’s eye health campaigns during 2020-21 vision
once a week to deep red light screened 26,000 underprivileged women across India.
can improve declining vision The campaign being conducted at Greater Chennai Middle
as per a new study conducted School, Jagannathapuram, Chetpet (Chennai) is vision screening and
by University College London providing free corrective glasses to those detected with refractive
(UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology errors.
researchers.
The campaign was launched in the presence of Serge Zins,
The study reported in Vice-President, Asia Pacific, Hoya Vision Care, Manu Bhai Davey
Scientific Reports, reveals that and Dinesh K. Shah, President & Past-President, Chennai Optical
the UCL researchers found Association, and IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel.
that participants had a 17%
improvement in colour contrast “I welcome Hoya Vision Care and Chennai Optical Association to
vision on average and that the the screening program. Hoya has been a supporter of IVI's initiatives
effects of the exposure to 670 and we thank them for participating in the vision screening program.
nanometre deep red light lasted Today’s screening program will benefit women and children, both in
for at least a week. need of access to eye care in India,” said Mr Daniel.
“This simple intervention “I also acknowledge the Chennai Optical Association for joining us
applied at the population level in the initiative,” he added.
would significantly impact SWOLLEN EYES, ANAEMIA CAN
on quality of life as people
age and would likely result in INDICATE KIDNEY PROBLEM
reduced social costs that arise
from problems associated with According to experts at Lucknow’s King George’s Medical
reduced vision,” said lead author, University (KGMU), if one notices swelling around the eyes and legs,
Professor Glen Jeffery, of the UCL has anaemia and occasional headache and vomiting, it could be an
Institute of Ophthalmology, who early warning sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
believes that such exposure has Officiating head of the nephrology department Prof Vishvajeet
the potential to “significantly Singh said: “Chronic kidney disease is hard to detect in its early stages
improve declining vision.” because of its veiled symptoms. Nearly 60 per cent of the patients
The researchers further shared come at the end-stage of disease. By that time, dialysis or organ
that although they had noted transplant is the only option left.”
positive effects for individuals Prof Singh said that if anyone witnesses swelling in limbs
following the exposure to deep (especially eyes and legs), low haemoglobin, occasional headache
red light, the magnitude of and vomiting, he or she must consult a nephrologist as soon as
improvements could be different possible, especially if they have hypertension or diabetes too as early
between those of similar ages. diagnosis can mean faster treatment to control the disease.
They concluded that more Another nephrologist Dr Lakshya Kumar said, “Chronic kidney
research involving a larger disease numbers are increasing over the years because every third
sample size is required to full individual in India has hypertension. Of these more than 60 per cent
explore the probable effects do not know that they have it. And others who know, only 50 per cent
of other variables on vision end, up taking their medicines. Hence, due to continuous high blood
improvement. pressure, the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys get damaged.”
126 THE INDIAN OPTICIAN MAY-JUNE 2022 NEWS IN BRIEF
