Eye Care Awareness Month (ECAM), which takes place from 21 September to 18 October 2024, focuses the world’s attention on the importance of eye care in young people and inspiring children everywhere to love their eyes. During this time in South Africa, driven by the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA) and the South African Optometric Association (SAOA) thousands of voices are casting a spotlight on children’s eye care and championing eye health for all young people. After all, the healthy lessons we can teach our kids today become the foundation for a lifetime of good vision.
“We all know that in children, uncorrected vision impairment can severely impact their education. Research tells us that children with access to and being prescribed spectacles can reduce failing rates by 44%. It is knowledge like this that has led us to make Eye Care Awareness Month 2024 one for children around the world,” says Nivien Subramany, SAOA President.
ECAM embraces the principle that together, we are creating a world where every child has eye health that is accessible, available, and affordable. This gives rise to a generation of children who will have all the information they need to protect their eyes and, crucially, take the steps needed to look after their vision – from reducing screen time and placing importance on being outside through to seeking help for any ailments and discomfort.
The primary aim of Eye Care Awareness Month is to ensure that children not only understand the importance of caring for their eye health but are also free from the weight of any social stigma associated with wearing glasses and other corrective treatments. Through these efforts, governments and those of influence will listen – recognising that early intervention and regular eye health is critical to unlocking education opportunities and future economic potential.
One of the leading causes of visual impairment is the formation of cataracts, accounting for 40% of global blindness, according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Cataracts occur when proteins in the lens of the eye denature and decrease the amount of light that enters the eye. Aging is one of the biggest factors contributing to the formation of cataracts but there are other factors too, such as diabetes, excess sunlight exposure, smoking and previous eye injuries or inflammation. It is therefore important to educate young people about the importance of the preventable causes.
Cataracts also impact young people in our society by potentially causing them to leave their education to care for older family members who are unable to care for themselves due to cataracts. The good news about cataracts is that they can be treated with surgery. OSSA’s Right to Sight Trust enables people who could otherwise not afford cataract surgery, to have this sight saving procedure through donations by the public and surgical consumables by pharmaceutical companies. The professional time and expertise required to perform these procedures are donated by ophthalmologists throughout South Africa during the month of October each year.
ECAM presents a series of opportunities for various role-players to get involved: Schools and organisations are encouraged to collaborate with optometrists where screening the vision of children can be arranged; carers and parents on behalf of their children ,are invited to make appointments for comprehensive eye health and vision examinations; teachers are asked to access Eye Care Awareness Month resources* that inspire children to take care of their eyes now, and long into the future. It needs to be stated loudly and repeatedly – eye health in young people is not an optional extra. It is vital to everything.
The South African Optometric Association, which celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2024, is a professional association representing optometrists and dispensing opticians in South Africa. Amongst its wide range of responsibilities, access to care, standards of care, and education of the public remain SAOA priorities. For further information, contact the SAOA via info@saoa.co.za.
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*THE GLASSES OF THE FUTURE COMPETITION
Eye Care Awareness Month, which takes place from 21 September to 18 October 2024, will highlight the critical importance of prioritising child eye health, and give children everywhere the opportunity to love their eyes.
“Parents and Carers, Teachers, and Coaches, we are inviting children to unleash their creativity and design the glasses of the future. What will they look like, what unique functions will they have? When kids invent, they solve problems and create possibilities, and we are excited to see designs where no dream is too big or too small. Have kids enter this fun competition open to children from 7 years to 18 years” says SAOA President, Nivien Subramany. Click here for competition details. Prizes have been sponsored by Molecule Technologies, RBE Stationery & Print, Wordsworth Books, Ster- Kinekor, FCG Logistics, Safilo, EssilorLuxottica & Waltons.
