Check your eyes every two years: expert

The World Sight Day aims to make people aware that 75 per cent of blindness is preventable and treatable. This year’s theme is ‘Vision for Children,’ highlighting the fact that every five seconds one person in the world goes blind, and a child goes blind every minute.

More than 1.4 million children are currently blind — up to 50 per cent from avoidable causes, as per the World Health Organisation report.

Dr Chris Canning, MEHD’s CEO and Medical Director, said: “Many childhood eye problems can be detected early and treated before they become permanent. A general rule is that children should be tested for eye problems at the age of three.”

Dr Canning recommends regular eye check-ups for adults every two years to detect treatable problems such as glaucoma before they reach a critical stage.

He urged people protect their eyes from bright sunlight. A cap with a visor is as good as sunglasses.

Dr Canning warned that smoking could cause serious damage to eyes.

“A recent study has determined that smokers are four times more at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in the Western world.