optometry.naija: Vision 2020 and the role of Optometry Practice in ...: "Optom Back in 15-18 January 1999 when Vision 2020 was launched, it was aimed @ reversing the roller-coaster drive of blindness Prevalence w..."
Optom
optometry is discussed here, eye diseases and disabilities are highlighted and management of such ocular conditions enumerated.
Friday, 29 April 2011
Vision 2020 and the role of Optometry Practice in Nigeria- episode 2
Optom
Back in 15-18 January 1999 when Vision 2020 was launched, it was aimed @ reversing the roller-coaster drive of blindness Prevalence which was projected to rise up to 58 million in 2010 and 75 million in 2020. But the almighty question staring @ us, the estimated versus prevailing epidemiological data reality, begs for answers. I wish to draw us to events that finally culminated in formation of Vision 2020 Global initiative, also identified as Vision 2020: Right to Sight.
In 1972, the same year the globally accepted minimum definition of blindness as, " VA of <3/60 with a central visual field of <10 degrees" and as incorporated in the international classifications of diseases ninth revision (ICD-9), the estimated prevalence of blindness was between 10-15 million. This projected estimate was said to be an underestimation by epidemiologists and other experts. The need for a more epidemiological sound estimate of blindness and the need to look into causes of blindness and the myth gave birth to International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in 1975. It is an international umbrella body of governmental and non-governmental eye care providers whose aim is to prevent or treat causes of blindness.
In that same year, 1975, WHO/ Prevention of Blindness/Blinding disease (WHO/PBL later WHO/PBD) was created as a partnership between world health organization (WHO) and IAPB and world donor groups. In 1979, the first epidemiologically sound estimate of Blindness prevalence based on ICD-9, from 60 distinct geographic areas, was 28.1 million blind as @ 1975. In 1987 the prevalence of blindness, based on ICD-9, was 31 million from 90 distinct geographical area @ 1984. In 1994, there was an estimated 37.9 million people blind @1990. As @ 2000 there was an estimated 45 million blind and the story continues... this seem to correlate with a projection made in 1975, that by 1990 the world prevalence of blindness will be 38 million, in 2000, 45 million people will be blind. If nothing is done, prevalence of blindness is expected to rise to 58 million in 2010 and record 75 million in 2020.
This worrying scenario is further aggravated by a lackadaisical approach towards the goals of achieving the mission statement of Vision 2020: Right to Sight, which has prevention, treatment and elimination of the various preventable causes of blindness as a core message. Another factor that keeps pandering the escalating proportion of prevalence of blindness and visual impairments, is the chronic and persistent professional in-fighting among the professional eye care providers. The Ophthalmologists, the Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and the Orthoptists are eye care professionals whose aim is to provide visual 'soundness' for the visually challenged.
Finally, in a subsequent blog, I am going to discuss the eye care professionals with emphasis on Optometry.
To be continued...
Dr Victor Okwudiri Ezebuiroh.
Back in 15-18 January 1999 when Vision 2020 was launched, it was aimed @ reversing the roller-coaster drive of blindness Prevalence which was projected to rise up to 58 million in 2010 and 75 million in 2020. But the almighty question staring @ us, the estimated versus prevailing epidemiological data reality, begs for answers. I wish to draw us to events that finally culminated in formation of Vision 2020 Global initiative, also identified as Vision 2020: Right to Sight.
In 1972, the same year the globally accepted minimum definition of blindness as, " VA of <3/60 with a central visual field of <10 degrees" and as incorporated in the international classifications of diseases ninth revision (ICD-9), the estimated prevalence of blindness was between 10-15 million. This projected estimate was said to be an underestimation by epidemiologists and other experts. The need for a more epidemiological sound estimate of blindness and the need to look into causes of blindness and the myth gave birth to International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in 1975. It is an international umbrella body of governmental and non-governmental eye care providers whose aim is to prevent or treat causes of blindness.
In that same year, 1975, WHO/ Prevention of Blindness/Blinding disease (WHO/PBL later WHO/PBD) was created as a partnership between world health organization (WHO) and IAPB and world donor groups. In 1979, the first epidemiologically sound estimate of Blindness prevalence based on ICD-9, from 60 distinct geographic areas, was 28.1 million blind as @ 1975. In 1987 the prevalence of blindness, based on ICD-9, was 31 million from 90 distinct geographical area @ 1984. In 1994, there was an estimated 37.9 million people blind @1990. As @ 2000 there was an estimated 45 million blind and the story continues... this seem to correlate with a projection made in 1975, that by 1990 the world prevalence of blindness will be 38 million, in 2000, 45 million people will be blind. If nothing is done, prevalence of blindness is expected to rise to 58 million in 2010 and record 75 million in 2020.
This worrying scenario is further aggravated by a lackadaisical approach towards the goals of achieving the mission statement of Vision 2020: Right to Sight, which has prevention, treatment and elimination of the various preventable causes of blindness as a core message. Another factor that keeps pandering the escalating proportion of prevalence of blindness and visual impairments, is the chronic and persistent professional in-fighting among the professional eye care providers. The Ophthalmologists, the Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and the Orthoptists are eye care professionals whose aim is to provide visual 'soundness' for the visually challenged.
Finally, in a subsequent blog, I am going to discuss the eye care professionals with emphasis on Optometry.
To be continued...
Dr Victor Okwudiri Ezebuiroh.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
optometry.naija: Vision 2020 and the role of Optometry Practice in ...
optometry.naija: Vision 2020 and the role of Optometry Practice in ...: "Optom In 1975, during a World Health Assembly organized by World Health Organization (WHO), WHO Program for the Prevention of Blindness was..."
Optom
Optom
Vision 2020 and the role of Optometry Practice in Nigeria- episode 1
Optom
In 1975, during a World Health Assembly organized by World Health Organization (WHO), WHO Program for the Prevention of Blindness was formed. An adoption of the resolution forming such body was reached in 1978 through the efforts of International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and other allied stakeholders. This arm of WHO was aimed @ controlling avoidable visual impairments and blindness. But this body was hampered by low political and professional will.
In 1996, world population data on the magnitude of visual disability and low vision was published. This rattled stakeholders to action and Vision 2020 Global initiative and Vision 2020 Right to sight was introduced.
In 2003 it was adopted as Resolution WHA56.26, whose aimed @ Eliminating the main causes of all preventable and treatable blindness as a public health issue by the year 2020.
The initiative aims @ arresting such potential cause of blindness
i) Cataract
ii) Onchocarciasis
iii) Trachoma
iv) Refractive error/ low vision
v) Common causes of childhood blindness.
Vision 2020 Right to Sight has a laid down core strategies aimed @ Eliminationg avoidable blindness include-
a) Disease control
b) Human Resource development
c) Infrastructure and technological development.
Today we have barely 9 years to year 2020!
To be continued...
Dr Victor Okwudiri Ezebuiroh.
In 1975, during a World Health Assembly organized by World Health Organization (WHO), WHO Program for the Prevention of Blindness was formed. An adoption of the resolution forming such body was reached in 1978 through the efforts of International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and other allied stakeholders. This arm of WHO was aimed @ controlling avoidable visual impairments and blindness. But this body was hampered by low political and professional will.
In 1996, world population data on the magnitude of visual disability and low vision was published. This rattled stakeholders to action and Vision 2020 Global initiative and Vision 2020 Right to sight was introduced.
In 2003 it was adopted as Resolution WHA56.26, whose aimed @ Eliminating the main causes of all preventable and treatable blindness as a public health issue by the year 2020.
The initiative aims @ arresting such potential cause of blindness
i) Cataract
ii) Onchocarciasis
iii) Trachoma
iv) Refractive error/ low vision
v) Common causes of childhood blindness.
Vision 2020 Right to Sight has a laid down core strategies aimed @ Eliminationg avoidable blindness include-
a) Disease control
b) Human Resource development
c) Infrastructure and technological development.
Today we have barely 9 years to year 2020!
To be continued...
Dr Victor Okwudiri Ezebuiroh.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
optometry.naija: Glaucoma week Series -episode 11 (finally on Glauc...
optometry.naija: Glaucoma week Series -episode 11 (finally on Glauc...: "Optom Most Angle-closure Glaucoma often fail to respond properly to drugs, as well as most secondary Glaucoma. It becomes imperative to qui..."
Optom
Optom
Glaucoma week Series -episode 11 (finally on Glaucoma management)
Optom
Most Angle-closure Glaucoma often fail to respond properly to drugs, as well as most secondary Glaucoma. It becomes imperative to quickly send those patients for surgical intervention. Various kinds of surgical interventions for Glaucoma could be performed to basically alleviate symptoms and promote management of this chronic and blinding syndrome.
They include both laser & non-laser surgical interventions such as- Scleroctomy ( creating a bleb via the anterior chamber to the sclera), Traculoplasty ( using laser to change the integrity of the trabecular meshwork, its especially good for primary open-angle glaucoma), Trabeculectomy (removal of some portions of the trabecular meshwork; other variants like trabeculotomy [incision without removal of some portions of the trabecular meshwork], Goniotomy [Tabeculectomy using a gonioscope, especially in children]); iridotomy (creating surgical holes in the iris using laser], iridectomy (involving the removal of a portion of the iris), others include viscocanaloplasty, different types of tube shunt surgeries etc.
It is well advised to also continue managing that sugically treated glaucoma with drugs and going for frequent checkups to your primary eyecare provider in your area, especially the first professional eye doctor who diagnosed your case and recommended surgery for you. You can assess your community Optometrist or Ophthalmologist today for your eye check. It could just be glaucoma, you never now.
I was to thank http://www.allaboutvision.com & http:glaucomacures.com for providing me with some relevant materials. Vision 2020 is achievable...
concluded.
Dr Victor Ezebuiroh Okwudiri.
Most Angle-closure Glaucoma often fail to respond properly to drugs, as well as most secondary Glaucoma. It becomes imperative to quickly send those patients for surgical intervention. Various kinds of surgical interventions for Glaucoma could be performed to basically alleviate symptoms and promote management of this chronic and blinding syndrome.
They include both laser & non-laser surgical interventions such as- Scleroctomy ( creating a bleb via the anterior chamber to the sclera), Traculoplasty ( using laser to change the integrity of the trabecular meshwork, its especially good for primary open-angle glaucoma), Trabeculectomy (removal of some portions of the trabecular meshwork; other variants like trabeculotomy [incision without removal of some portions of the trabecular meshwork], Goniotomy [Tabeculectomy using a gonioscope, especially in children]); iridotomy (creating surgical holes in the iris using laser], iridectomy (involving the removal of a portion of the iris), others include viscocanaloplasty, different types of tube shunt surgeries etc.
It is well advised to also continue managing that sugically treated glaucoma with drugs and going for frequent checkups to your primary eyecare provider in your area, especially the first professional eye doctor who diagnosed your case and recommended surgery for you. You can assess your community Optometrist or Ophthalmologist today for your eye check. It could just be glaucoma, you never now.
I was to thank http://www.allaboutvision.com & http:glaucomacures.com for providing me with some relevant materials. Vision 2020 is achievable...
concluded.
Dr Victor Ezebuiroh Okwudiri.
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