September-October | The HEALTH |
Focus 17 |
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Hospital ’ s Medical Officer Dr Syed Mohamed Suhail Mohamad and Optometrist Nor Azizah Abd Latif , organised by the Sabah State Health Department .
• A TikTok competition aligned with this year ’ s theme , ‘ Love Your Eyes Kids .’
• Mass eye screenings and free reading glasses sponsored by the Adversary Club .
• Health talks focused on eye-related diseases .
• An exhibition with booths and sales .
• Blindfold drawing competition . The main event will be officiated by
Deputy Minister of Health Dato ’ Lukanisman Awang Sauni , who will represent the government in its support of the country ’ s eye health initiatives .
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hood eye problems among Malaysians .
However , the study was based on an online survey focusing primarily on Peninsular Malaysia , leading to doubts about whether the same findings would apply to Sabah and Sarawak .
“ In my practice , I often see a significant number of children in Sabah with eye problems . Conditions like refractive errors , congenital cataracts , and even eye cancer such as retinoblastoma are still quite common .
“ Many of these children struggle to access basic eye checkups , and some families are hesitant to follow through with treatments , often due to limited education and scepticism towards modern medicine .
“ The key strategy moving forward is to consistently raise awareness about childhood eye problems and empha-
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Myopia prevention tips .
( IMAGE BY MAMP ).
EARLY DETECTION
“ Many eye conditions in children can go unnoticed because they may not be able to express their symptoms clearly . Issues like refractive errors , lazy eye ( amblyopia ), and congenital cataracts can seriously impact their vision if not identified early ,” Dr Israk remarked .
WSD 2024 seeks to raise awareness among parents and caregivers about the critical need for regular eye examinations to catch early signs of potential eye problems in children . Thus , educating parents and children about preventive measures is crucial .
“ I want to remind parents to pay close attention to their child ’ s vision . I have two simple pieces of advice : first , limit screen time by following the 20-20-20 rule - after 20 minutes of screen time , have your child look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds .
“ Second , encourage outdoor play . Studies show that spending two to three hours outside daily can help prevent or slow the progression of myopia .”
A study conducted by optometrists from Universiti Teknologi Mara ( UiTM ), University College Sedaya International ( UCSI ), and private practitioners , published in the Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences in 2022 revealed that there is sufficient awareness of childsise
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the need for accessible eye care services ,” shared Dr Israk .
Leveraging social media , alongside the support of local influencers , can enhance outreach efforts .
“ I believe social media plays a huge role today . It ’ s an excellent platform to raise awareness . We need more local content creators and influencers to talk about children ’ s eye health .
“ There ’ s also a special programme by optometrists in the Ministry of Health called Amblyopia and Visual Impairment Screening known as AVIS , where they actively conduct vision screening among preschool students .”
According to Dr Israk , the Malaysia Advocacy for Myopia Prevention ( MAMP ) plays a key role in addressing myopia management and raising awareness .
Through outreach programmes involving ophthalmologists and optometrists , MAMP provides eye screenings and vision therapy to underserved communities . Despite these initiatives , all stakeholders must remain committed to ensuring comprehensive eye care for future generations .
To facilitate better access to vision care for children , WSD 2024 urges governments and NGOs to invest more in eye care programmes and research .
Besides , in order to encourage early detection and intervention , the medical equipment and treatments should meet the highest standard of care . Nonetheless , achieving these advancements necessitates significant investments .
There is also a need to establish more visual rehabilitation centres to support children with blindness and vision impairments . This initiative will ensure they receive the support needed to thrive alongside their peers as the country progresses .
Prioritising children ’ s eye health for WSD goes beyond merely preventing blindness . It ’ s about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential .
This effort calls for a collaborative approach involving parents , healthcare providers , educators , and policymakers , all working together to promote and safeguard children ’ s vision .
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