WORLD SIGHT DAY
THE STAR, THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2022
REFRACTIVE errors are among the
major causes of blindness listed in
the Right to Sight initiative by the
World Health Organization (WHO)
and the International Agency for the
Prevention of Blindness.
Causing blurred vision that may
lead to blindness when left
untreated, refractive errors occur in
four variants – myopia (near-
sightedness), hyperopia (far-
sightedness), astigmatism (caused
by an irregularly curved cornea)
and presbyopia (difficulty in
reading or seeing at arm’s length).
According to Dr Azlindarita @
Aisyah Mohd Abdullah, consultant
general and paediatric
ophthalmologist at MSU Medical
Centre, “Normal sight is enabled
when light entering the pupil is
focused by the cornea and the
crystalline lens onto the retina.”
In myopia, where the eyeball is
too long or the focusing power of
the lens or the cornea is too high,
the entering light focuses in front of
the retina. Correcting
it requires a
concave or “minus
power” lens.
Dr
Azlindarita
@ Aisyah
Mohd
Abdullah.
Taking care of your vision
Hyperopia involves the eyeball
being too short or the focusing
power of the lens/cornea being too
low, in which case the entering light
focuses behind the retina. It is a less
common condition, yet still
treatable by a corrective convex or
“plus power” lens.
When the cornea or the lens is
more curved in one direction than
another in an astigmatic condition,
the entering light focuses at
different points in front of and
behind the retina. Whether
occurring since birth or caused by
post-traumatic corneal scars, a
growth on the eyelid pressing onto
the eyeball or allergic conjunctivitis
(causing itchiness that prompts
scratching and pressure on the
eyelid), astigmatism can be
corrected by a cylindrical lens.
Signs and symptoms
Children below the age of two
may appear cross-eyed, tend to
bring objects very close to their eyes
or come closer to the objects (such
as the television). Abnormal head
postures (AHPs) that they adopt to
improve vision such as a face turn,
head tilt or chin lift may indicate
astigmatism. Older children may
squint or decrease the eye aperture
when looking at distanced objects,
besides possibly still displaying
AHPs.
Meanwhile, school-going children
may complain of headaches, eye
strain or a plain inability to see
clearly in the classroom. Their
faulty eyesight could be the culprit
behind a poor school performance.
Refractive errors may be
inherited or result from a
premature birth, and can occur at
any age. In 2010, myopia and high
myopia were respectively estimated
to affect 27% and 2.8% of the world
population, according to a joint
report by WHO and Brian Holden
Vision Institute titled The impact of
myopia and high myopia.
The high prevalence of myopia
among Asians may be attributed to
genetics but the steep increase in
the number of cases may also be
owed to factors such as excessive
use of gadgets, reduced sun
exposure, increased indoor-time,
and late intervention for correction.
Treatment options
A common misperception among
parents in Malaysia who postpone
treatment in their children, is a
fear of glasses further worsening
an already deteriorating vision.
This fear is unfounded as clear
visual stimulation is especially
needed for children to develop
their full potential. Early
treatment will also help prevent
amblyopia or lazy eyes.
Glasses are the simplest option
and carry a lower risk of
infection compared to contact
lenses. However, very high-
powered glasses can be
uncomfortable to wear,
warranting the usage of contact
lenses instead.
In China, Singapore, Hong Kong
and South Korea, atropine eye
drops in low concentrations have
been used to delay myopia safely.
However, they should only be
provided by ophthalmologists
who must also monitor the
patient’s vision power, as well as
eyeball length.
A special contact lens worn at
night, called the orthokeratology
lens, has shown promising results
in slowing down the progression
of myopia in children. However, it
has a slightly higher risk of
infection as it is worn overnight
and care may be lax on the
hygiene aspect.
Myopia usually progresses
yearly and stabilises by an
individual’s late teens to early 20s.
Once over the age of 21, laser
surgery can be an option if the
patient’s affected eye is still not
growing or changing.
Management and Science
University (MSU) offers the
four-year Bachelor of Optometry
(Hons) and the three-year Diploma
in Ophthalmic Dispensing
programmes at the Faculty of
Health and Life Sciences (FHLS).
In a concerted effort at bringing
vision health’s importance into
focus, the university holds an
annual MSU Eye Carnival
organised by the MSU Eye Centre,
the MSU Optometry Students Club
and the FHLS Department of
Optometry and Visual Science.
With many children across the
world belonging to families who
cannot even afford an eye
examination, blindness-prevention
aid by the university reduces the
statistics while helping children
see better, achieve more and excel
in school.
6 World Sight Day
Protect your eyes in the digital world
DO you spend hours staring at your
smartphone screen every day? Did you
know that eyeballing a digital screen for
long hours can harm your eye health? Blue
light – the high-energy visible light emitted
by a digital screen is one of the contributing
damaging factors that can cause adverse
effects to our eyes.
Seventy-one per cent of Malaysians owns
a smartphone and spend an average of 5.1
hours a day on the Internet.(1) Constant eye
exposure to potential damaging blue light
from smartphones and other digital devices
causes visual stress that will damage the
retina, accelerate vision deterioration and
increase the risk of developing age-related
eye diseases at a much earlier age.
While limiting the amount of time spent
on digital screens is one of the precautions
to protect your eyes in this digital world,
good nutrition is also one of the key factors
that can promote healthy eyes.
Six key nutrients for heathier eyes
1) Marigold – Naturally rich in lutein
and zeaxanthin, which are important in
promoting healthy eyes. Clinical studies
have shown that 10mg of lutein and 2mg
of zeaxanthin are beneficial for eye health.
Lutein and zeaxanthin in combination
(2,3,4)
can filter harmful blue light, ultraviolet
(UV) rays and neutralise free radicals.
2) Haematococcus pluvialis
– A type of freshwater green
microalgae that is naturally
high in astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin is an
antioxidant that can
alleviate eye fatigue.
3) Wolfberry (go-ji) –
Naturally high in
polysaccharides and
carotenoids. Traditionally
used for improving eye
health.
4) Eyebright –
Traditionally used for relief
of eye strain/eye fatigue.
5) Bilberry – Source of
anthocyanosides which
provides antioxidant
protection, strengthens eyes
function, and delivers
nutrients and oxygen
to the eyes.
6) Dunaliella salina
– A type of green
microalgae that is
naturally high in
mixed carotenoids
THE STAR, THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER 2022
including beta carotene, alpha carotene,
lutein, zeaxanthin, etc, to support eye
health. Constant eye
Biogrow OPTIbrite E Capsule: exposure to potential
damaging blue light
Healthy eyes for a quality life
from smartphones
Biogrow OPTIbrite E Capsule is a six-in-
one improved formulation with high
strength for eye health. Each vegetable and other digital
capsule contains a clinically studied
amount of 10mg of lutein and 2mg of devices causes
transzeaxanthin(2,3,4) extracted from
visual stress that will
marigold, astaxanthin from haematococcus
pluvialis, anthocyanosides from bilberry
and other eye health-enhancing nutrients damage the retina,
from wolfberry (go-ji), eyebright and
dunaliella salina.
accelerate vision
It is recommended for ageing adults,
students, computer users, individuals
deterioration and
aiming to improve or maintain eye health,
individuals experiencing eye strain or tired
increase the risk
eyes due to reading, driving, prolonged use of developing age-
related eye diseases
of digital devices (e.g. smartphone, tablet)
and individuals who are frequently
at a much earlier age.
involved in outdoor activities and exposed
to UV rays.
Take only one capsule daily after meals
for healthy eyes. Biogrow OPTIbrite E
Capsule is certified halal by Jakim and is
suitable for vegetarians too. It is available jamaophthalmol.2013.7376
in all leading pharmacies nationwide. This article is brought to you by Legosan
(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
References: n For more information, call 03-7956 2220
(1)
We are Social; Digital, Social and Mobile (Mondays to Fridays: 9am to 5pm) or visit
in APAC 2015 & Digital I 2016. www.biogrow.com.my.
(2)
AREDS2 Research Group. JAMA 2013;
309(19), E1-E11; doi:10.1001/jama.2013.4997 This is a traditional product
(3)
AREDS2 Research Group. Arch. advertisement.
Ophthalmol 2007; 125(9), 1225-1232.
(4)
AREDS2 Research Group. JAMA KKLIU No.0011/2020
Ophthalmol 2013; E1-E8; doi:10.1001/ KKLIU EXP: 31/12/2022