NGOs , and community leaders would help us improve eye care service provision .”

‘ Love Your Eyes ’ campaign

Dr Nor Anita said The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness ( IAPB ) had listed four Ps for the ‘ Love Your Eyes ’ campaign ; 1 . Prevent A healthy lifestyle and eating habits can prevent many eye diseases and sight loss . A healthy diet full of vitamins A , C and E and minerals like zinc and lutein can help promote eye health and lower the risk of eye diseases .

A healthy lifestyle is as simple as maintaining a healthy weight , watching blood sugar , blood pressure and cholesterol level , not smoking , and reducing alcohol consumption . This is because comorbidities such as diabetes , hypertension and high cholesterol can , directly and indirectly , affect vision and results in low vision and blindness . 2 . Protect The campaign encourages people to protect their eyes to prevent ocular injury . Wearing sunglasses will protect the eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun , which contributes to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration .

Meanwhile , protective eyewear such as goggles , face shields and safety glasses are also essential in work settings to prevent ocular injury , especially when exposed to flying objects , chemical splashes and radiation .

Next , practice good eye hygiene for better eye health . Consult your eye care provider on safe eye cosmetics and practice the 20-20-20 rule to minimise digital eye strain . 3 . Preserve To preserve clear vision , get regular comprehensive eye exams . A thorough eye examination includes eye care professionals obtaining thorough medical and family history to understand potential risk factors before examining for vision , eye strength , and overall eye health .

4 . Prioritise Ensure that eye examinations are a part of your routine medical examination . Prioritise your eye health and consider “ Love Your Eyes ” a life goal . Educate your family , loved ones , and community regarding the importance of eyes and vision

It is encouraged to have a regular eye examination at least once a year , especially for those above 40 years old and those with diabetes . Parents should also ensure their children ’ s eyes are checked because we now have many eye and vision problems among children following the increased use of gadgets .

HSNZ is the host of Malaysia ’ s WSD celebration this year and Dr Nor Anita shared that several activities were being planned in conjunction with the celebration . Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is scheduled to officiate the national WSD 2022 celebrations at HSNZ . – The Health

Dr Nor Anita

Similarly , for diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma , patients do not see the need to adhere to their medication and stop attending appointments just because the condition is painless .”

World Sight Day ( WSD ) is observed annually on the second Thursday of October and is an international day of awareness to focus attention on the global issue of eye health . It is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness ( IAPB ).

WSD 2022 falls on Oct 13 , and building on the success of last year ’ s campaign , which saw over 3.5 million pledges to prioritise eye health , the IAPB announced that WSD 2022 will continue with the previous theme “ Love Your Eyes .”

Malaysia ’ s WSD celebration this year is hosted by the Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah ’ s ( HSNZ ) Ophthalmology Department in Kuala Terengganu .

Coordinator Dr Nor Anita , HSNZ consultant ophthalmologist , said : “ Nearly everyone will experience an eye health issue at least once in their lifetime . However , more than a billion people worldwide are unaware and do not have access to eye care services to ensure clear , healthy vision .

“ We want to focus the world ’ s attention on eye health as a global issue . As such , during WSD , many activities are organised to raise awareness of eye health amongst individuals , families and communities .

“ WSD is also a platform to influence decision-makers to prioritise eye health initiatives . We want organisations and the public to unite to encourage governments , corporations and institutions to actively call for universal access to eye health and help activate demand for eye health services .”

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WSD 2022 celebration in Malaysia

Dr Nor Anita shared that several activities are being planned in conjunction with the celebration .

“ Firstly , we will have a public forum on diabetes and blindness . This is because the National Health and Morbidity Survey ( NHMS ) 2019 revealed that one out of five people in Malaysia has diabetes , and almost half are unaware of the affliction .

“ Diabetes can cause permanent blindness . But it is avoidable if the diabetes is controlled and the changes in the eyes are detected early . So , we aim to raise awareness of diabetes and blindness .

She continued : “ We are also conducting a mass free eye screening for adults and children to detect any eye problem early and ensure that they can be referred for treatment if needed .

“ First , we will conduct a visual test to examine vision quality . Then we will examine for diseases such as cataracts , glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy . For the children , we will also check whether they have a refractive error and require glasses or not .

The mass eye screening programme will be held at Taman Tamadun Islam Convention Center and will be open to the public . Schools and kindergartens were also invited to bring the children for eye screening .

“ Next , we also have a booth and poster exhibition to raise public awareness on eye health . To make it more interesting , the exhibition will also have quizzes , colouring activities for children , and low vision simulation activities to allow the general public to have a simulated experience of having low vision and blindness .

“ Besides that , we also have an E-poster competition among the Ministry of Health ’ s ( MoH ) eye departments throughout the country . The E-poster competition aims to produce informative posters promoting eye health on social media platforms .”