80% of cases of visual impairment can be prevented or cured

13 December is the feast day of St. Lucia, the patron saint of the blind, opticians and ophthalmologists. In recognition of this festivity, the Institut de la Màcula is attempting to increase awareness in the population of the importance of periodic eye examinations in order to diagnose possible incipient pathologies and then cure or halt them.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 285 million people currently suffer some form of visual impairment, of which 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision.  80% of these cases in the world may be prevented or cured.

“65% of those with visual impairment are aged over 50. The number of under-15s has grown to 19 million, with the suffering of 12 million of them being due to refractive errors which can be corrected,” says Dr. Jordi Monés, the Director and Ophthamologist at the Institut de la Màcula.

Eye diseases which cause blindness

The principal diseases which lead to blindness are: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), of which there are two types –wet and dry-, is the primary cause of sight loss in the Western world in patients of over 50 years. At present, over 25 million patients suffer this disease in the world and this figure increases by 500,000 each year.

Dry AMD represents 85% of all cases of age-related macular degeneration. “This is the most common and serious, being still incurable. In contrast, thanks to major breakthroughs in research, wet AMD may be treated through intraocular injections which are able to halt it, if it is detected in time,” Dr. Monés says.

Cataract or clouding of the eye’s lens, is one of the most common eye abnormalities. Its principal risk factor is age, but diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, as well as other factors like smoking, alcohol and malnutrition, may intervene in its formation process.

Glaucoma is an eye pathology in which intraocular pressure increases due to, among other reasons, the lack of drainage of aqueous humor. The number of people who suffer this disease is high, with its prevalence varying between 1.5% and 2% in people who are over 40.

One of the eye complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. This is caused by deterioration in the retinal veins, which become dilated and cause the escape of fluids and even occlusions, which may leave part of the retina without blood circulation.

Over recent years, the rate of visual impairment has fallen thanks to developments in research, expeditious action following detection of a pathology and, above all, prevention. This is why, more than ever, we must continue down this path.

 May St Lucia preserve your sight!