Worldwide, 36 million people are blind, but 75 per cent of this sight loss can be cured or prevented.
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We protect sight by providing eye operations for people who need them, and training eye care workers and surgeons to provide sight-saving treatment.Through community volunteers, we also distribute medication to protect people from blinding diseases in some of the world’s poorest countries like Pakistan.
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Eye conditions we treat and prevent
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1-Cataracts
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Cataracts are caused by a build-up of protein that clouds the eye’s lens, which can lead to blurred vision and eventual blindness.We aim to make it easier for people to be treated for cataracts, especially in poorer areas of Pakistan, where surgery is not always readily available.We also want to improve the quality of cataract surgery and increase the number of operations that are able to be performed.To achieve this, we’re working to strengthen community health programmes and increase the number of surgeons, nurses and community workers trained in eye health, as well as educating local people about the condition and explaining where to get treatment.We need your help to save the sight of people with cataracts. An eye examination to screen someone for a range of eye conditions costs less than a cup of coffee, and could be the first step towards restoring their vision.
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2-Refractive error
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Refractive errors are eye disorders caused by irregularity in the shape of the eye. This makes it difficult for the eyes to focus images clearly, and vision can become blurred and impaired.They also include presbyopia, a normal ageing change, where the eye is no longer able to focus at close range.These eye disorders can be particularly problematic in developing countries, where those affected may not be able to afford sight tests or spectacles to help improve their vision. What’s more, those living in rural areas may not have access to eye care – in southern Punjab, for example, two-thirds of ophthalmologists and optometrists are based in capital cities, leaving a shortage of trained eye care professionals working in rural areas.
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How is refractive error treated?
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Eye test
The patient is given an eye test to find out how badly their vision is affected.
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Diagnosis
During the test, they're asked to read letters or symbols from a chart.
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Correction
If they have refractive error, it can then be corrected with spectacles.
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3- Trachoma
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This infection can cause the eyelashes to turn inwards so they scrape on the eye. We distribute preventative medication and offer surgery for advanced trachoma.
What is trachoma?
Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, and is part of a group of conditions known as neglected tropical diseases (often referred to as NTDs).
Trachoma starts off as a bacterial infection that’s a bit like conjunctivitis, and can be easily treated.
But if it’s not, over time it causes scarring to the eyelid that makes the eyelashes turn inward, so with every blink they scrape against the eye.The disease thrives where there are water shortages, poor sanitation and infestations of flies. The pain is so intense that many people resort to pulling out their eyelashes to reduce the agony of blinking. Over time, if it’s not treated, trachoma can lead to blindness.Trachoma infections spread through contact with infected flies and via hands, clothes or bedding; because of this, it disproportionately affects women and children: women are also up to four times more likely than men to be blinded by trachoma.The agony and disability of trachoma can lead to a cycle of poverty, limiting many people’s access to health services, education and employment.
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How is trachoma treated?
Antibiotics
Zithromax® tablets, donated by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, are used to treat the trachoma infection. Treatment is usually repeated annually for three or more years.
Surgery
Trachoma can cause the eyelashes to turn inwards. In severe cases, an operation stops the eyelashes rubbing against the eyeball, and halts the cycle of repeated infection.
Cleanliness and hygiene
Communities are encouraged to change behaviours that can put them at risk of contracting trachoma, and are taught about the importance of face washing, hygiene and sanitation.
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4-Glaucoma
- Glaucoma is when fluid builds up inside the eye, leading to pressure that damages the optic nerve. If it’s not treated in time, it can cause irreversible blindness.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is caused when pressure builds up inside the eye, damaging the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain. If it’s not treated in time, it can cause irreversible blindness.
It’s thought that 4.5 million people across the globe are blind because of glaucoma, making it the third highest cause of blindness worldwide.
The condition can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms don’t appear straight away – instead, they develop slowly over many years. This means many patients only seek treatment when they notice they’re losing their sight, when significant damage has already occurred.Glaucoma is a group of conditions caused by normal fluid in the eye that hasn’t drained properly. This creates pressure that damages the optic nerve connecting the eye to the brain, resulting in sight loss. Although it’s not clear exactly why this happens, factors such as age, family history, racial background and other medical conditions such as diabetes and short-sightedness can increase the risk. It can affect people of all ages, but it’s most common in adults.There are different types of glaucoma, and treatment will depend on the type a patient has. Glaucoma can’t be cured, and vision that has already been lost cannot be restored. But further sight loss can be prevented via medication or surgery. Each glaucoma patient requires lifelong management for best results.
How is glaucoma treated?
Eye drops
The most common type of glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops that reduce the pressure in the eye. This treatment will need to be continued throughout the person’s life.
Surgery
Laser treatment or surgery can correct the problem that initially caused the fluid build-up. Laser treatment is fairly straightforward and usually takes about 15 minutes.
5-Diabetic retinopathy
This eye disease is caused by high blood sugar and high blood pressure. Over time, this can damage the blood vessels in the back of the eye and can lead to blindness.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
This eye disease is caused by high blood sugar and high blood pressure: over time, this can damage the blood vessels in the back of the eye.
One in three people living with diabetes has some degree of diabetic retinopathy, and every person who has diabetes is at risk of developing it.
The disease usually affects both eyes, though one can be affected more than the other, and is caused when a patient’s blood pressure or blood sugar are too high. Over time, this can damage the blood vessels that supply blood to the retina in the eye, which coverts light into electrical signals and sends them to the brain. If the retina doesn’t get the blood it needs, it can’t work properly, meaning vision is affected. It can eventually cause permanent blindness.
The disease is progressive: at first, the blood vessels start to leak and eventually cause bleeding inside the eyes. There are three stages of retinopathy that mainly affect the central part of the retina and can cause permanent blindness, while a different type of the disease, called maculopathy, affects the middle of the eye.
People who have diabetes are also at higher risk of developing other eye problems, including and glaucoma.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
Management
Keeping blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control can prevent diabetes-related vision problems.
Injections and laser
If detected early, injections and laser treatment can stop the disease from progressing and prevent blindness.
Surgery
In the case of advanced diabetic retinopathy, surgery may be needed to remove blood and new blood vessels from the back of the eye.