14/05/2019
Let's beat this scourge!
👊👊👊
May 13th - 19th, 2019 is being marked globally as the World Myopia Awareness Week 2019, aimed at raising awareness about the eye condition called MYOPIA.
Let's talk about Myopia:
👁️🗨️Myopia is an eye condition that is a type of refractive error, also known commonly as as "short-sightedness"; in which only close range objects can be clearly seen and images become blurry or unclear once the object is moved farther away from the eyes.
This condition exists in various degrees of severity and sometimes it can be so progressive to become degenerative myopia - a leading cause of avoidable legal blindness.
👁️🗨️Myopia has become a public health concern due to the rising numbers of people becoming diagnosed with myopia. In fact, the WHO projects that one out of every two people of the world's population will have myopia by the year 2050, with nearly 1billion people in the high myopia category.
👁️🗨️Myopia significantly reduces quality of life and productivity, as poor vision can hinder various potential achievements of the sufferer - young children suffer in classrooms and young adults suffer in their various endeavours.
👁️🗨️Signs of myopia include various degrees of poor vision at far that may improve as the target comes closer, eye strain, headaches, uncomfortable vision and fatigued eyes. Myopia is likely to progress in severity and become worse, especially in children, if its not detected and corrected. Progressive myopia can cause more serious complications like retinal detachment, and degenerative retina changes.
👁️🗨️Fortunately, those who have myopia can be helped and their quality of life improved!
The first step is to get proper diagnosis from an Optometry Eye Clinic. The Doctor of Optometry will perform some tests to know what corrections to administer. Myopia refractive error can be corrected using spectacle lenses, contact lenses as well as some other special therapeutic and surgical procedures, depending on the type and cause of the Myopia. There is no need to suffer anymore.
🚧 This week, let's STOP myopia in its tracks ➡️
☝️Get checked by an Optometrist, if you have any concerns about your vision or that of your child. See clearly, stay productive.
✌️Adhere to your correction plan if you have already been prescribed one.
🔊Share this message to help someone too.
For more information, contact an OPTOMETRIST or OPTOMETRY EYE CLINIC close to you.
Together, Let's beat this scourge!
©️Advocacy Committee
Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA)
