KATHMANDU: World Sight Day is being observed today with various programmes under the theme “Love Your Eyes, Protect Your Sight.” The day is observed every year on the second Thursday of October.
This year’s theme encourages people to take greater care of their eyes while calling on governments and stakeholders to ensure accessible and quality eye-care services for all. It also emphasizes expanding eye-screening and awareness programmes in schools, workplaces and policy-making forums.
The prevalence of blindness in Nepal stood at 0.84 percent in 1981. However, according to the 2022 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey, the rate has declined to 0.28 percent.
Despite the decline in blindness, eye health remains a significant public health concern. Dr. Shailesh Kumar Mishra, executive director of the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, said conditions such as glaucoma, retinal diseases, diabetes-related vision problems, age-related eye diseases and refractive errors are emerging as growing challenges.
He said increasing life expectancy, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, changing lifestyles and the widespread use of digital devices are creating new risks to eye health.
According to the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, it has so far provided eye-care services to 52,489 people and performed 5,659,624 eye surgeries.
The association currently provides eye-care services to Nepalis and foreign nationals through 28 eye hospitals and 226 treatment centres operated through its branches in 44 districts.
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