Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : March 5, 2016 8:33 PM IST
With as many as 550 million Indians living with uncorrected vision, the country suffers major health and economic consequences of this seemingly minor concern. As per studies, the risk of failing a grade is more than 3 times for children who have visual acuity below 20/20 versus children with good visual acuity. Today 4 out of 10 children s performance in school suffers due to poor vision.
In a study conducted among working men and women - wearing spectacles increased productivity by 34% and 20% increase in income. However, lack of awareness and absence of easy access to corrective measures remain crucial factors responsible for this gap.
On World Sight Day, Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, is launching a national campaign to conduct eye screenings in as many as 10,000 people including schoolchildren and traffic policemen, and educate them about the importance of eye health and the need to be vigilant about it. Also read - how to keep your eyes healthy at all ages.
The Essilor initiative focuses on the simple step of getting your eyes tested and wearing spectacles, if needed, to correct vision. Another focus of the campaign is to inculcate the importance of getting an annual comprehensive eye exam which helps in early detection of eye related issues like glaucoma, cataract and AMD (age related macular degeneration).
The eye screenings will be conducted across the month at schools, IT parks and with Bangalore city traffic police personnel.
Nearly half of India s population needs vision correction. Based on findings, 70% of the reasons for uncorrected refractive errors are non-financial such as lack of awareness, avoidance and lack of priority. We want to bring focus to eye care and how vision correction can lead to change in every person life, said Shiv Kumar J, CEO, Essilor India.
In India not many people consider it important to get their eyes tested. This campaign also wants to emphasize on the importance of regular eye check-ups, much like the regular body health check-ups. Regular eye check-ups can detect eye problems such as cataract or glaucoma early on, and offer solutions. So this World Sight Day, get your eyes checked to get better vision for better life.
Image source: Shutterstock
