“ Young children with early onset of vision impairment can experience lower levels of educational achievement , and in adults , it often affects the quality of life through lower productivity , decreased workforce participation and high rates of depression ,” said Visionex Optometrist ( Visionex ) Founder and Optometrist Jason Teng .

“ Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors are estimated to be the leading causes of vision impairment . However , other reasons cannot be ignored .

“ Age-related macular degeneration , glaucoma , long-standing systemic conditions like diabetes causing diabetic retinopathy , infectious diseases of the eye and trauma to the eye are all equally important causes for vision impairment that need to be addressed ,” he said .

Early detection of abnormal changes to your eye can help safeguard any potential risks associated with vision loss . Therefore , it is important to prioritise the eye when discussing health .

“ People are more health conscious compared to the past , consuming a healthy diet and making lifestyle changes towards a better quality of life ,” noted Teng .

“ Most people in the urban areas are aware of eyecare due to a higher education . And with the internet , it is easy to access a multitude of information related to eye care .

“ However , there is still a lack of awareness , especially in rural areas , due to limited access to health facilities , poor hygiene and other factors associated with a lower standard of living . This leads to the prevalence of vision impairment or blindness .”

IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR EYE CHECK-UPS

Teng shared that regular follow-ups are required to monitor the change ( if any ) in ocular and vision conditions that may or may not affect overall visual health . It is recommended yearly for adults and every six months for children .

“ For kids , typically , their eyes are still in the developing stage . So , without early screening and detection , eye problems such as lazy eyes cannot be corrected on time and will cause problems later in life .

“ For example , we had one customer aged 15 who came in for screening . We found that she had very high astigmatism , which caused the eye to drift out .

“ She , therefore needed to undergo surgery to look better . This could have been avoided if the astigmatism was detected early .”

He said the growing use of digital gadgets has led to an increase in computer vision syndrome ( CVS ), also known as Digital Eye Strain ( DES ).

“ Young adults and children alike are more likely to suffer from such conditions ( e . g . CVS ) due to the heavy usage of digital devices in their daily lives . As for children , the impact is greater as increased near to

We at Visionex are committed to providing our best in visual screening and promoting eye health . There is a solution for every individual , whether through providing glasses or contact lenses .”

Jason Teng

From Left : Reen Da and Jason Teng .

screen work will tend to increase myopia .”

He emphasised it was therefore important to get eye examinations from health care providers such as a clinical practice , hospitals or local optometrists such as Visionex Optometrist , located at Elmina , Shah Alam in Selangor .

COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE BEST EYECARE SERVICE

“ We at Visionex are committed to providing our best in visual screening and promoting eye health . There is a solution for every individual , whether through providing glasses or contact lenses .”

Teng also extended his gratitude to J & J Vision Care for providing Visionex with a wide range of contact and trial lenses products and the tools and platform to promote eye health for those in need .

“ As such , we can advise and provide the best solutions for each unique individual based on their lifestyle and needs .”

As for World Sight Day ( WSD ) 2023 , Teng explained that the campaign aimed to achieve a world where no one experiences unnecessary or preventable vision loss and everyone can achieve their full potential .

“ Together , we must work to ensure eye health receives the global political , health and development focus it needs and deserves , as well as to recruit more members of the public and decisionmakers involved in helping the world understand the importance of eye health .” – The Health