40 Million people are blind in this world of which 12 Million are in India.
80% of this blindness is preventable or treatable.
Cataract, Glaucoma, Refractive errors, Diabetic Retinopathy, Eye Injuries, Eye Infections and Age Related Macular Degeneration account for a majority of the cases of treatable and avoidable blindness.
Hereditary diseases and Degenerative diseases are not treatable as of date, but with stem cell research and diagnosis in very early pregnancy now possible, some hope is not very far away.
How does blindness start? And what can be done to avoid blindness?
Most Eye Diseases start with a decrease in vision or blurring of vision – this is especially so for Cataract, Ageing Macular Degeneration, Refractive Errors, Glaucoma. There may not be any other symptom. Systematic vision testing and full eye examination by an eye specialist (by putting drops to see the retina) can detect early eye diseases and offer a treatment that will go a long way to prevent blindness from occurring later.
Cataract (Safed Motia) is usually seen in the above 45-50 years age group and starts as a painless gradually progressive decrease in vision-often requiring repeated change of glasses, or not getting clear vision despite new glasses. Some people may notice colored haloes around light, difficulty in night driving, increased glare from lights at night or not being able to make out colors clearly. The disease is slowly progressive and ultimately both eyes will be affected. Cataract may come at an early age due to injury to the eye or head, diabetes or eye inflammations. As cataract matures a white color begins to appear in the pupil (Safed Putli) of the eye. Untreated Cataract can lead to irreversible blindness from onset of complications like Glaucoma.
In the early stages of Cataract some improvement in vision may take place with corrective glasses but as the cataract advances, glasses fail to correct vision and surgery – removal of the cataract with insertion of intra-ocular lens is the only option. There is as yet no medicine – allopathic or homeopathic that has been proven to stop or reverse cataract. Only an eye surgeon can decide when and how to operate upon the patient’s eye.
Glaucoma (Kala Motia) is a disease where the pressure inside the eye increases to a level that begins to damage the nerve leading to permanent loss of vision. It is seen in the same age group as Cataract, is painless initially or presents with dull, low-grade eye pain or headache. There is usually a family history of similar problem.
Glaucoma is more dangerous than any other disease since it irreversibly damages the Optic Nerve and it starts with symptoms that mimic cataract or headache and unless an eye specialist specially looks at the optic nerve or checks the pressure inside the eye, the diagnosis may be missed.
Early diagnosis and treatment with certain specialized eye drops can prevent glaucoma damage by controlling the pressure and in some cases, which fail to be adequately controlled by medicines, surgery becomes necessary.
Diabetic Eye Disease depends on the duration and control of diabetes. Any diabetic with more than 5 years of diabetes must have eye check-up at least once a year. Early diabetic eye disease presents with small leaking blood spots in the retina which later lead to larger blood spots and sudden bleeding, which may lead to loss of vision. Early diabetic retinopathy is well diagnosed by Fundus Fluroscein Angiography (FFA) and onset of severe disease can be delayed by the use of Laser.
Macular Degeneration is a disease whose cause is not well understood at this time but leads to a degeneration of the central most part of the retina- the part that is most needed for vision. It presents as painless blurring of vision and needs an eye examination after putting drops in the eye to dilate the pupil so that the retina can be examined.
Refractive Errors – Myopia, Hypermetropia and Astimatism are the common cause of inability to see far objects in children and young adults. The child may complain of not being able to read from the blackboard or read bus numbers. The basic defect in these cases is the mis-match between the power of the lens in the eye and the size of the eyeball. Full correction is possible by glasses – which must always be checked by an eye specialist. Uncorrected refractive errors can lead to lazy eye, squint of the eyes and irreversible changes.
The 5 golden rules of a healthy eye – for your own self -assessment
Eye lashes pointing out
White part of the eye is clean and white
The Cornea - the black part of the eye is shining and all black
The Pupil – the small round black portion inside the cornea is black
Vision is the same with both eyes when checked on a standard eye testing chart
What can you do to Save Sight?
Do not neglect any of the danger eye symptoms
Redness
Pain
Decrease in vision
Teach children safety habits like
Do not play with bow and arrows, sticks, stones
Read in tube light
Do not read while lying down
Do not watch T.V for more than 1 hour a day
Eat green leafy vegetables and red/orange fruits and vegetables
Do not trust your precious sight in the hands of quacks and roadside vendors
You will get the value of what you pay for
The young child needing glasses for the first time must be checked by an eye specialist
All people over the age of 40 should have an eye check up once in two years if they are healthy and more often if they have been diagnosed with glaucoma or diabetes.
Incase of any chemical eye injury- wash immediately with plenty of water and cover with clean cotton hanky and rush to eye specialist
In case of any sharp object injury – do not wash – simply cover with clean cotton hanky and rush to eye specialist
If you know someone who is blind – remember that 80% of all blindness is either preventable or curable – bring him to an eye specialist who can make a correct diagnosis and offer the best solution – so that you too can Save a Sight and Change a life – there is no more precious gift than the gift of sight.
About the Author
Dr.Sanjay Dhawan is double Gold Medallist in M.B.B.S. (Madras University) and in M.S. (Ophthal) (Pondicherry University) from JIPMER Pondicherry. After his post graduation, he went abroad to work for Help Age International of U.K and Sight Savers International of U.K. Subsequently he joined the World’s only flying hospital – ORBIS International DC-10.
He returned to India and has since joined Maharaja Agarsen Hospital. Punjabi Bagh and has his own clinic – Aashray Eye and Skin Centre – an Advanced Centre for Sight and Skin Care at A-52. Meera Bagh. Paschim Vihar- Outer Ring Road. He is available for consultation and surgery daily from 6-7pm and can be contacted on 9810635968 Mobile. He specializes in Cataract with IOL, Phaco – No stitch surgery, Glaucoma (Kala Motia), Lasers for Diabetes and other retinal diseases, Contact lenses. His wife – Dr.Anjeeta Dhawan is a Skin Specialist – specializing in all chronic skin diseases, laser treatments, cosmetic peels, dermabraion and radiofrequency and cryo surgery.
Dr.Sanjay Dhawan
Mobile:(+91) 9810635968
Aashray Eye and Skin Clinic
A-52. Meera Bagh. Paschim Vihar New Delhi
Timings Daily 6-8 pm
(Sats by appointment only, Sun Closed)
