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Over the last several years the Southeast Asian nation had made great strides in improving eye health but there were still significant gaps to plug , especially in more rural areas . share this simple eye test and quick tips for eye care on an app , as people use their phones daily , and many people are unaware that they have a vision problem until it is too late .”
Such poor awareness is rife across countries , though there are huge variations . The vast majority of people with vision impairment live in low-and-middleincome countries where there ’ s a higher prevalence of unaddressed cataract and refractive errors mostly due to limited access to eye care services . By contrast , high-income countries with older populations are plagued by higher rates of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration ( A�� ) as these are more common in the elderly .
Malaysia may be unusual as it has a fair share of both problems . “ Malaysia faces a mixed scenario , dealing with both traditional causes like refractive errors and cataracts , as well as emerging issues associated with an ageing population , including agerelated macular degeneration and glaucoma ,” said Dr Hafi� .
He added that over the last several years the Southeast Asian nation had made great strides in improving eye health but there were still significant gaps to plug , especially in more rural areas .
The National �ye Survey III ( N�S III ) conducted last year , for instance , showed a significant drop in blindness in the Malaysian states of Pahang , Kelantan , Terengganu , and Sarawak compared to the previous survey in ���� .
�In N�S III , si� out of � , ��� Sarawak residents e�perienced blindness compared to �� out of � , ��� residents in ���� , � �r �ohamad A�i� Salowi , an ophthalmologist and N�S III researcher , told reporters at the N�S III launching ceremony , according to Bernama . The main causes of blindness were cataract , diabetic retinopathy , and glaucoma .
Despite the improvements , many Malaysians still suffer from preventable vision impairment . In ���� , then Health director-general Tan Sri �r Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the most common causes of vision impairment were untreated cataracts and myopia , stressing that �nearly �� percent of the main causes of blindness can be treated and prevented ,” reported The Star .
Besides a dearth of eye care services , misconceptions on the nature of eye disease also contribute to the high numbers of untreated conditions and late diagnoses . Many falsely believe that “ good vision equates to the absence of discomfort ,” stressed �r Hafi� , while the lack of symptoms in the early stages of some eye conditions gives people a false sense of security . To compound this already poor understanding , some are convinced that diets can either cause or treat health problems , which in turn can lead them to avoid consulting a doctor or start seeking care when it ’ s too late .
�In �alaysia , many choose unverified �traditional ’ food-based remedies , potentially delaying essential healthcare interventions , which could lead to situations where eye problems worsen or become more complicated to treat ,” he said .
Though nutritious food can ’ t always prevent or cure eye problems , he added that maintaining a healthy lifestyle , including regular exercise and a clean diet , could play an important role in promoting overall health while also having a positive impact on eye health in particular .
“ A clean and nutritious diet , rich in fruits and vegetables , provides antioxidants that help protect the eyes from oxidative stress , which is linked to agerelated eye conditions such as cataracts and AMD ,” he explained .
In addition , regular exercise can improve blood circulation , which in turn delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to the eyes , supporting their optimal function and reducing the risk of conditions related to poor circulation , such as vasculopathy . Physical activity is also crucial for diabetics as it can keep blood sugar levels under check . “ For individuals with diabetes , maintaining stable blood sugar is crucial in
A healthy diet can contribute to eye health
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