AS World Sight Day was observed on October 9, the Highway Mail spoke to a local optometrist who said it has been learnt that a lack of awareness on eye health is a common issue.

Sereshni Naicker, franchisee optometrist at Spec-savers, Westown Square, said this lack of awareness can be highlighted in that many of the practice’s patients “have little understanding of what cataracts are” despite this condition being “among the leading age-related eye conditions we diagnose”.

“While ageing is a major factor, cataracts can also be accelerated by uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure and even prolonged exposure to sunlight. Few people know that wearing sunglasses or a sunhat outdoors can help slow the progression down,” said Naicker.

Another common condition, added Naicker, is known as presbyopia, which is age-related difficulty with reading fine print.

“Many of our patients struggle to read their Bibles or newspapers, unaware that this is a natural weakening of the eye’s focusing ability. Over-the-counter reading glasses may offer temporary relief but they often result in incorrect prescriptions that strain the eyes further,” said Naicker.

Naicker added that it has been observed that many locals rely on clinics for issues relating to their eyes.

“To address this we have partnered with Spec-Savers to open a new branch in Shongweni, Westown Square Mall, bringing professional eye care closer to home. This initiative bridges the gap between urbanised services and local community care, ensuring that quality vision care is within reach for everyone,” said Naicker.

Naicker stressed the importance of checking your vision early “to avoid any potential sight threatening visual problems”.

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“Screenings do not only reveal eyesight problems, they can reveal things about your general health like diabetes and hypertension. Therefore, we encourage people to come in and have a holistic view of their health,” said Naicker.

Naicker said Spec-Savers provides free vision screenings designed to provide patients with feedback on the health of their eyes.

“These screenings are designed to show you where your eyes are and where they should be, so we can detect and manage potential sight-threatening issues before they progress,” said Naicker.

Naicker added that Spec-Savers also offers exclusive package deals that include a comprehensive eye test and a customised pair of glasses to ensure that patients’ visions are safely and effectively corrected.

“Eye health is not a luxury, it is a necessity. By educating our communities and making screenings accessible, we can prevent avoidable vision loss and improve quality of life,” said Naicker.

On World Sight Day, an annual global event led by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to raise awareness about vision impairment and the importance of eye health, the theme of this year’s campaign was “Love Your Eyes”.

Vision impairment remains a significant global health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from vision loss or blindness, nearly half of which could be prevented or treated with timely intervention.

Leading causes include uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts, which continue to affect quality of life, economic productivity, and education opportunities, particularly in underserved regions.

World Sight Day served as a reminder that simple actions can safeguard vision.

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