ENSURING OPTIMAL EYE HEALTH

1. ENSURING OPTIMAL EYE HEALTH BY DR ABDULRAHEEM MAHMOUD MBBS, FMCOph, FWACS, FICS, Asct Prof/Consultant Ophthalmologist

2. OUTLINE • Introduction, concepts. • Eye basics • Categories of eye care workers • Ophthalmic gadgets • Specific eye conditions & situations • Eye care promotion & prevention • Rehabilitation of the blind • Conclusions & recommendations

3. INTRODUCTION • The sense of sight • Eye health continuum • Burden of blindness • Ophthalmic treatment options

4. EYE BASICS

5. CATEGORIES OF EYE CARE WORKERS • Ophthalmologist • Optometrists • Opticians • Orthoptists • Ophthalmic nurses • Integrated/primary eye care workers

6. Simple familiar ophthalmic gadgets

7. Near reading chart for muslim “illiterates”

8. A well-provisioned eye clinic

9. Ophthalmic surgery in progress

10. Jet age flying eye hospital

11. Lay-out of flying eye hospital

12. Specific eye conditions & situations • Refractive errors • The red eye • Cataract • Glaucoma • Paediatric conditions • Computer use and the eye • Protective eye wears (sports, occupation) • Fasting & (eye) medications

13. Red eye from chronic allergy

14. Cataract

15. Squint in children

16. Childhood ye cancer (retinoblastoma)

17. Eye health promotion, prevention & rehabilitation • Eye care promotion • Prevention of blindness • Rehabilitation of the blind • Institutional or home-based • Braille training and materials • Utilities (walking canes, guide dogs, etc) • Social/legislative support

18. LOW VISION AID

19. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS • The responsibility for optimal eye health rests as much with the individual as well as the community/government. • Most eye ailments are avoidable as they are either preventable and/or curable. • Eye health promotion and prevention are considerably easier and cheaper than cure. • Blindness is both an individual and a societal tragedy. • Investment in eye care is one of the most cost-effective in health care financing.

20. Acknowledgements • The conveners • The “landlord”