KUALA LUMPUR, 29+ Oct 2017:
It is not uncommon for parents to diligently bring their children for dental check-ups every six months. But it is quite a different story when it comes to their child’s eye health – an oversight that could lead to vision problems going undetected.
To this end, the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) and the Malaysian Optical Council (MOC) launched a National Eye Health Awareness (NEHA) Campaign 2017 with the theme ‘Vision for Children’ – aimed at reinforcing good eye health among children by encouraging early and regular eye examinations by optometrists to avoid vision impairment.
Speaking at the campaign launch, AMO president Murphy Chan said: “Vision plays a crucial role in children’s physical, cognitive and social development.
“Uncorrected vision problems can affect a child’s development, interfere with learning, and even lead to permanent vision loss. The impact of poor vision on the education and quality of life of our younger generation is substantial and more often than not, children’s eye health is often overlooked.
“With this year’s campaign, we want to reinforce that regular eye examinations and consultations by qualified optometrists are vitally important to detect eye problems before the child’s development is compromised.
“Together with the Malaysia Optical Council, we fervently believe that vision screening and eye examinations are complementary and essential elements of a strong public health approach to elevate eye health standards in Malaysia.”
Myopia, widely known as near-sightedness is one of the most common refractive errors of the eye. With its prevalence on the rise, it has now become a significant global public health concern affecting 85% to 90% of young adults in some Asian countries.
In Malaysia, the prevalence of myopia has also reached concerning heights; unfortunately, the high number of children with myopia remains undetected.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said from a broader perspective, the World Health Organisation has revealed that one in two persons will be myopic by 2050 globally.
It further indicates that by 2050, half of the world population (4.95 billion) will also develop myopia. This means, one in two persons will be myopic, and Asians are more prone to having myopia due to genetics, modern technology, environment and lifestyle.
“A recent study reported that in 10 children in Malaysia has an undiagnosed vision problem, propelling the need to raise public awareness and provide adequate eye health education for the children. This will help us to elevate eye health standards and can lead to improved education for children.”
Another issue of concern is the high use of gadgets among school children, and the harmful blue rays emitted by such digital devices. With a little help, such as Hoya special spectacle lenses, children’s eyes can be protected.
An alternative not many parents will consider, is fitting children with contact lenses.
Ranukka Singham, professional affairs manager of Alcon Laboratories Sdn Bhd, said: “Children who are very active in sports including cheerleading, ballet, football can choose to wear contact lenses safely subject to assessment of suitability by optometrists and care by parents.”
As part of the ‘Vision for Children ‘ campaign, free eye screening for children will be provided at participating outlets until 31 Dec 2017. Contact the AMO at +60 11-2610 2040 or email [email protected].