Prevention matters: Keeping cataracts and glaucoma at bay
Regular eye examinations can detect sight-threatening conditions early, particularly in people at higher risk.
Regular eye examinations are crucial for detecting sight-threatening conditions early, particularly in individuals at higher risk. Our eyes serve as windows to our overall health, often reflecting underlying health issues we might otherwise overlook. Despite this, eye health is frequently neglected, even as serious threats to sight develop gradually without obvious warning.
Low Jin Rong, a consultant ophthalmologist at Cornerstone Eye Centre, highlighted that many patients monitor vital signs like blood sugar and blood pressure, but not their eyes. Data from a 2021 analysis of Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) surveys in 15 Indonesian provinces revealed that approximately 3% of individuals aged 50 and older were blind, with cataracts and glaucoma being the primary causes.
The study found that untreated cataracts were responsible for 81.2% of blindness among this age group, making them the leading cause of blindness in Indonesia. The earlier one undergoes regular eye exams, the lower the risk of developing severe vision problems, and the sooner individuals can enjoy good vision.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
