It added that 400,000 of the half a million Filipinos stricken with blindness could have been successfully treated, if the government strengthened efforts to cut avoidable blindness, the WHO said in a statement commemorating World Sight day.
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This is why it says that government should continue to strengthen health systems to reduce cases of visual impairment, the WHO said. The government should also enhance its efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness by helping national health care providers treat eye diseases, widen access to eye health services, and increase rehabilitation for people with visual impairment.
Cataracts remain the leading cause of avoidable blindness, especially in developing countries, the agency said, adding that the condition can be treated in 15 minutes.
Other causes of blindness include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and refractive errors.
It said that blindness remains a touchy issue since it does not only affect a person’s quality of life but also to the economy.
“Reducing blindness, therefore, alleviates household, community and national poverty and is linked to improving access to educational and employment opportunities,” said the WHO.
WHO estimates indicate that 246 million people worldwide have low vision while 39 million are already blind.
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