Eye conditions that can be targeted effectively with preventive strategies include myopia, ocular trauma and the majority of infectious eye diseases. In addition, the prevention or management of systemic disease, such as diabetes, can be effective in reducing the risk of ocular diseases.
For example, preventative lifestyle changes among children, including a combination of increased time spent outdoors and decreased near-work activities, can delay the onset and slow the progression of myopia which reduces the risk of high myopia and its complications
Blindness and vision impairment
Blindness and vision impairment affect at least 2.2 billion people around the world. Of those, 1 billion have a preventable vision impairment or one that has yet to be addressed. Reduced or absent eyesight can have major and long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services.
Reduced eyesight can be caused by a number of factors, including disease like diabetes and trachoma, trauma to the eyes, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. The majority of people with vision impairment are over the age of 50 years; however, vision loss can affect people of all ages. Blindness and vision loss are felt more acutely by people in low- and middle-income countries where accessibility and specific government services may be lacking. In those countries, the most common cause of vision impairment in children is congenital cataract.
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