As many as 1.2 million children in Nepal need eye intervention, that is, either an immediate eye checkup or glasses, says Yudha Dhoj Sapkota, Board Member of the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS).
In a press brief organized by NNJS, on the occasion of World Sight Day, Sapkota said that 20 per cent of children in the age group of 9-17 years need eyeglasses in Nepal, however, 17 per cent of them are not aware of that.
Sapkota, who is also regional program co-coordinator of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), informs that eye problem in children is surging as outdoor activities are decreasing in the country, especially children living in urban areas and from the upper socio-economic background, are being affected by ocular diseases as they are more engaged with screens than outdoor activities.
According to the research conducted by IAPB before the lockdown owing to COVID-19, showed that around 10% of children living in rural belts and 20% of children from urban areas have eye diseases due to the lack of outdoor activities and excessive screen time.
The percentage has increased after the COVID-19 pandemic as more children were stuck at home amid lockdown.
“The children need at least 14 hours of outdoor activities in a week but many children nowadays stay indoors using phones and watching TV, therefore, many children are now developing eye issues,”
“Cataracts, trachoma, and vitamin A deficiency are the major causes of blindness in Nepal. Regular eye screening, intensive free eye camps, availability of eyeglasses, and including people who are still not in access to the eye can solve a majority of eye problems in Nepal and prevent blindness,” said Bharat Bahadur Chand, Secretary of the NNJS.
The chairperson of the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Prof. Dr Chetnath Panta, informed that blindness in Nepal stood at 0.81 per cent in 1981 which came down to 0.35 per cent in 2010 and the target is to reduce it to below 0.2 per cent. However, there are several hurdles to providing effective and efficient eye care in Nepal.
The majority of people in rural belts are not in access to eye care and are not aware of it, disproportionate availability of hospitals and resources, and cost management are hindering eye care in Nepal.
Chairperson Panta said that one in every 400 people in Nepal is blind, but, 80 per cent of the blindness could be prevented with early intervention. He stressed that that are many patients with ocular diseases are not receiving eye care because of ignorance and lack of awareness.
World Sight Day is observed today around the globe to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health and the theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Love your eye.’