Cover Story as this approach can identify eye conditions at an early stage when they can often be successfully managed , thus preventing unnecessary vision impairment .
In addition to strengthening eye care services , raising awareness about how to maintain vision health is also paramount as it will empower people to take action to protect their eyes .
“ Public health campaigns can dispel misconceptions , emphasise the significance of regular eye checkups , and educate communities about common eye conditions . In Malaysia , tailored awareness programmes considering cultural nuances can help overcome barriers to seeking eye care ,” e�plained �r Hafi� .
In particular , the WHO ’ s Package of eye care interventions stresses the specific need to raise awareness among at-risk groups like the elderly , people with diabetes , and those with a family history of eye conditions . It also recommends addressing the common misconception that reduced vision is a normal part of the ageing process .
Making cataract surgery more accessible could significantly improve eye health
Dr Hafiz agrees and believes that a key long-term goal should be the integration of eye care into primary healthcare to ensure that “ routine eye check-ups become a regular part of overall health maintenance .” use limited resources . Over the last several years , it has successfully implemented a cataract care programme that has reduced the gap between urban and rural areas . Since ���� , a group of ophthalmologists and optometrists , with the support of the Ministry of Health , has organised mobile clinics to visit people living in rural areas . In the Malaysian state of Sarawak , for e�ample , between ���� and ���� , mobile clinics were able to screen around �� , ��� patients while carrying out � , ��� cataract surgeries for free , providing essential treatment to many people who otherwise would have forgone treatment and suffered from vision impairment , according to the WHO .
But some challenges continue to hinder the expansion of the programme , including lack of funding and specialist shortages , �r �ohamad A�i� Salowi , a public health ophthalmologist who coordinated the programme , told the WHO .
“ For such a program to move , we cannot move alone . This is what I have learned over the years . We need support from everyone - we need support from policy and instruction from above . We need to collaborate with others , not only NGOs , but also within the divisions of the Ministry of Health , and to coordinate outside the Ministry of Health ,” he said .
�r Hafi� agrees and believes that a key long-term goal should be the integration of eye care into primary healthcare to ensure that “ routine eye check-ups become a regular part of overall health maintenance ”
Promising research in ophthalmology There are now several lines of research that may one day give us better diagnostic tools and treatment options for several eye diseases . One particularly promising field is genetic therapy which could offer a fi� for faulty genes that cause hard-to-treat conditions .
A good example is Luxturna , a drug approved by the �S �ood and �rug Administration ( ��A ) in ���� to treat a rare type of hereditary disorder — biallelic ����� mutation-associated retinal dystrophy � that often leads to vision impairment in early life and then progresses to blindness . The cause is a mutation in the ����� gene that disrupts the production of an essential protein that processes light and allows normal vision . Luxturna works by injecting a normal ����� copy into the retina ( where light is processed to send vision signals to the brain ), allowing some people to improve their vision in a way that was previously unheard-of .
“ For those patients who have undergone Luxturna treatment , the results have been promising . Clinical trials demonstrated improvements in functional vision and the ability to perform daily activities , representing a groundbreaking advancement in the field of genetic therapies for eye conditions , � e�plained �r Hafi� .
He added that , in the future , genetic therapy could also contribute to treating other eye conditions , even common ones , as researchers gain a better understanding of the genetic causes driving the development of diseases like AMD . “ As we identify more genes associated with these conditions , the potential targets for genetic therapies increase ,” he said .
Stem cells and artificial intelligence are two other candidates for significant breakthroughs in
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