Varun Ranganathan, MCOptom

Clinical Optometrist

An OCULAR Interface Exclusive

Synopsis:

This blog highlights the significance of World Sight Day, a global event dedicated to raising awareness about blindness, vision impairment, and the importance of eye health. This blog explores the importance of children’s eye health in line with this year’s theme ‘Love Your Eyes Kids’ by focusing on current global statistics on preventable vision loss, the importance of regular eye exams, safeguarding children’s eye health. Join OCULAR Interface in advocating for better access to eye care and ensuring a brighter future for all.

World Sight Day, celebrated annually on the second Thursday of October, is one of the most important days in eye care and it serves as a global reminder of the importance of eye health and the need for accessible eye care services. In 2021, 295 million were living with moderate to severe visual impairment, and out of these 77% are fully treatable. ¹ Of these, the leading causes of preventable vision impairment are refractive errors and cataract which are easily detectable and manageable with routine eye examinations. Lack of access to quality eye care and awareness is one of the main reasons for preventable blindness to prevail.

This year places a crucial spotlight on eye health’s importance for young adults and especially children.

Current Global Scenario

One might expect that the statistics might be better for children because most children are under the care of adults, but this certainly is not the case. And as with adults these numbers vary from region to region depending on the accessibility to quality eye care services.

448 million children and adolescents live with sight loss and myopia ² is responsible for about 339.4 million and the rest 109.3 million from hyperopia. ³ In 2010 only 27% of world’s population was myopic but by 2050, it has been predicted that more than half of world’s population will be myopic. ⁴ This prediction is particularly significant because as the number of people with myopia increases, the onset age of myopia will decrease. Earlier the onset, more myopic children will become when they grow older ⁵ giving rise to other sight-threatening conditions like myopic glaucoma and retinal detachment.

Why Children’s Eye Health Matters

Children’s eyes are particularly vulnerable because they are still developing and the prevalence of most common eye conditions such as refractive error, amblyopia, and strabismus. When untreated these conditions can affect learning, social development, ⁶ and lifelong vision impairment. Good eyesight and eye health are integral to a child as 80% of learning occurs visually.

The following proactive measures can be taken to reduce the impact of poor eyesight in children

1. Educate parents and teachers about recognising the warning signs of reduced eyesight like squinting, holding books closer, frequent rubbing of eyes and headaches. ⁷
2. Screening programs at schools are very efficient in diagnosing refractive errors, amblyopia, and strabismus earlier in childhood. This can in turn prompt parents to schedule a comprehensive eye exam for the child. ⁸
3. Limiting screen time and prolonged close work is imperative for children especially if there is a family history of myopia. Children must be encouraged to play outdoors more and with sunglasses to protect themselves from UV rays and protective glasses to prevent injuries. ⁹

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Prioritising Children’s Eye Health

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) playing a significant role in eye care nowadays, it can enhance the way eye care professionals (ECPs) can manage and treat preventable eye conditions.

These could include:

1. AI-based vision screenings – AI can identify early signs of eye conditions that could be missed using traditional methods and can be quicker during mass school/community screenings.
2. Refractive error detection – Using AI to enhance Autorefractometers can quickly provide an outcome especially in very young children who may not cooperate very well.
3. Telemedicine platforms can be used to reach remote areas to provide quality eye care, prescribe glasses, and refer patients to tertiary eye hospitals for surgery/further management.

Preventable blindness is a global pandemic and can disable people from living their lives normally and it needs to be eradicated. AI has immense potential to radically transform the future of eye care and ECPs must be willing and passionate to embrace newer technologies for the betterment of humanity.

References

1. Global blindness was slowing prior to pandemic study reveals | Orbis.
2. Ma Y, Congdon N, Shi Y, Hogg R, Medina A, Boswell M, et al. Effect of a Local Vision Care Center on Eyeglasses Use and School Performance in Rural China: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018 Jul 1;136(7):731–7.
3. Castagno VD, Fassa AG, Carret MLV, et al. Hyperopia: A meta-analysis of prevalence and a review of associated factors among school-aged children. BMC Ophthalmology 2014;14. doi:10.1186/1471-2415-14-163.
4. Nouraeinejad A. [Lecture] Moorfields Eye Hospital. London: 2020. Aug 18, A warning message from 2020 to 2050: More than half of the world population will be myopic by 2050.
5. Nouraeinejad A. Iran: Noruzi Publication; 2017. Differential diagnosis in optometry and ophthalmology. 2nd ed.
6. Ma Y, Congdon N, Shi Y, Hogg R, Medina A, Boswell M, et al. Effect of a Local Vision Care Center on Eyeglasses Use and School Performance in Rural China: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018 Jul 1;136(7):731–7.
7. Sukati VN, Moodley VR, Mashige KP. Knowledge and practices of parents about child eye health care in the public sector in Swaziland. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2018 Nov 7;10(1):e1-e13. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1808. PMID: 30456970; PMCID: PMC6244139.
8. Children’s eye health advice – Why vision matters (aop.org.uk).
9. Lanca C, Saw SM. The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020 Mar;40(2):216-229. doi: 10.1111/opo.12657. Epub 2020 Jan 13. PMID: 31943280.