In pursuit of good eye health

IN conjunction with World Sight Day, the Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) and Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology (MSO) jointly call for attention and proactive efforts to be given towards preserving the vision health of the public.

We call for:

1. Implementation of routine annual eye screening among at-risk populations: We recommend that all primary and secondary schools allow periods of rest for children, including outdoor time, to help prevent myopia (short-sightedness). Myopia is worsened by prolonged usage of electronic gadgets like mobile phones and personal computers. With the growth of digital learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we also call for compulsory annual eye screening to be carried out for all school-aged children. Similarly, individuals aged 40 and above, especially those with diabetes and hypertension, should undergo routine annual eye screening. Early detection followed by timely intervention are vital to preserve optimal visual function.

2. Elimination of dubious and misleading advertisements for eye products: Social media has been manipulated by irresponsible parties to sell dubious products advertised for eye treatment. Their marketing often promotes health claims that are callous, misleading and not based on evidence. We would like to advise the public against purchasing such products. Patients opting for alternative therapies without prior discussion with their eye doctor risk worsening their condition. We urge the authorities to take firm action against those who publish dubious or misleading advertisements. Effective law enforcement combined with demands from informed consumers are necessary to combat the sale of these unsafe products.

3. Strict adherence to workplace eye safety: There have been many instances of serious and blinding ocular injuries at workplaces. These incidents are preventable, hence we urge the Department of Occupational Safety and Health and in-house OSH units to enforce safer working environments for all workers. Employers must provide proper safety gear, including appropriate safety eye-wear. There must also be rules to ensure strict usage of personal protective equipment among all workers. Office workers are also encouraged to ensure they practise the recommended eye correction technique. The general 20-20-20 rule of looking away from the devices every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds at an object 20 feet away or more should be adopted as a standard practice in office settings.

4. Strict regulation and enforcement of consumer fireworks (fireworks sold for use by the general public): One of the preventable contributors to ocular injuries are fireworks-related incidents. We would like to reiterate the International Council of Ophthalmology’s (ICO) call for strict regulation on consumer fireworks.

Ocular injuries due to fireworks are common especially during festive seasons, both locally and internationally. Several legislation have already been made in many countries to strictly regulate the use of fireworks. It is only befitting for Malaysia to adjust our law and enforcement efforts on this matter accordingly in order to reduce accidents caused by fireworks.

Preventive measures are crucial to protect healthy vision. We call for the relevant authorities and the public to collectively safeguard this important asset both at a national and individual capacity.

MALAYSIAN HEALTH COALITION

and MALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY

(World Sight Day was on Oct 13)