KATHMANDU: World Sight Day will be observed on Thursday, Oct 8, with various programs under the theme, “Love Your Eyes, Protect Your Vision.”
Observed annually on the second Thursday of October, the campaign encourages people to care for their eyes while urging governments and other stakeholders to ensure affordable, quality eye care for all. It also calls for expanded eye screening and awareness programs in schools, workplaces and policymaking institutions.
Clear vision affects almost every aspect of daily life, from children’s education to the work of employees, farmers, laborers and drivers. Eye problems, however, do not always begin with pain or discomfort. Ophthalmologists warn that people often ignore gradually deteriorating eyesight until the condition becomes serious.
In Nepal, the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh and other organizations will mark World Sight Day with awareness and eye care programs. Globally, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is running its “Love Your Eyes” campaign. According to the IAPB, more than one billion people worldwide still lack access to the eye care and treatment they need.
Eye care expands in Nepal
I lost my sight but gained vision: Sristi KC
Nepal has made considerable progress in expanding eye care over the past several decades. When the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh was established in 1978, eye care services were limited, with few facilities and specialists. Hospitals, treatment centers, specialist services and community programs have since expanded across the country.
The progress is reflected in declining blindness rates. Blindness prevalence stood at 0.84 percent in 1981 but fell to 0.28 percent in the 2022 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey.
Yet declining blindness does not mean Nepal has overcome its eye health challenges. The nature of the problem is changing. Glaucoma, retinal diseases, diabetes related vision problems, age related eye conditions and refractive errors are becoming growing concerns. Longer life expectancy, noncommunicable diseases, changing lifestyles and widespread use of digital devices are creating additional risks.
Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh Executive Director Dr Shailesh Kumar Mishra said Nepal must now focus on prevention, early detection and reaching people who remain outside the health care system. Regular eye examinations, he said, should become part of routine health care rather than something people seek only after serious problems develop.
General Secretary Bharat Bahadur Chand said eye care should be integrated with primary health services. Community screening, effective referral systems and greater use of technology in remote areas could help reach underserved populations.
Association President Prof Dr Chet Raj Pant said eye health should not be viewed only in terms of hospitals and treatment. Good vision directly affects education, employment, productivity and independence, making investment in eye care an investment in human development.
According to the association, it has provided treatment to more than 50.2 million people and performed over 5.65 million eye surgeries. It currently operates 28 eye hospitals and 226 treatment centers through 44 district branches, serving Nepalis as well as foreign patients.
Despite these gains, poverty, geography, lack of awareness and limited services still prevent some people from receiving timely treatment.
World Sight Day therefore carries a message beyond a one-day campaign. Parents and schools need to monitor children’s eyesight, while older people and those with diabetes or other risk factors should undergo regular examinations. Even minor changes in vision should not be ignored.
Protecting eyesight also protects opportunity. For a child, good vision supports education and future prospects. For a worker, it protects employment and income. For an older person, it helps preserve independence and quality of life.
The message is simple: care for the eyes, get them checked regularly, seek treatment early and make quality eye care accessible to everyone.
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