A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include faded colours, blurry or double vision, halos around light, trouble with bright lights, and trouble seeing at night.
Refractive error means that the shape of the eye does not blend correctly, resulting in a blurred image. The main types of refractive errors are myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism.
Trachoma is the leading preventable cause of blindness worldwide. Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids.
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). Poorly controlled blood sugar is a risk factor. Early symptoms include floaters, blurriness, dark areas of vision and difficulty perceiving colours.
Globally, an estimated 19 million children are vision impaired, with 1.1 million children irreversibly blind for the rest of their lives . The global prevalance of childhood blindness may be as high as 1.5 per 1000 children.
Left untreated in childhood, vision impairment can have long-lasting consequences including learning difficulties, reduces educational outcomes and employment opportunities and poor social interaction.
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Africa carries a disproportionate responsibility in terms of blindness and visual impairment. With approximately 10 percent of the world's population, Africa has 19 percent of the world's blindness. There is a need to highlight the link between poverty, development and health care.
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