It’s World Sight Day and time to book that eye test you may have put off due to Covid-19.
Created by the World Health Organization, World Sight Day is an annual event to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment and is supported by Vision 2020 Australia and Keratoconus Australia.
In Australia, around 90% of vision loss and blindness is preventable or treatable if identified early. Which is why regular eye testing is very important – chiefly in early childhood and teen years.
This is especially true for keratoconus, a progressive corneal disease, which most impacts adolescents and young adults. Early intervention with corneal collagen crosslinking can slow or halt disease progression, while sophisticated contact lenses can restore useable vision.
Eye rubbing has also been shown to trigger or aggravate keratoconus, so treat your allergies and avoid rubbing itchy eyes.
In Australia, it is estimated that more than 453,000 people are blind or vision impaired. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three times more likely to be blind or vision impaired than other Australians. About 50,000 or more Australians may have keratoconus.
Other major causes of vision loss in Australia are diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma. Diabetes is a leading cause of avoidable vision loss, but currently only half of people living with diabetes get the recommended eye tests. The KeepSight program (www.keepsight.org.au) is helping making it easier for people living with diabetes to get the eye care they need.
Get your eyes tested soon and spread the word #WorldSightDayAu