25 Apr 2017

Attention to health and wellness issues has recently gained momentum through endorsements and campaigns, but there seems to be a gap in addressing topics such as eye health.
On this note, Expert in the field, Dr Martin Mahlaka of Vision Optometrists advsied on the need for children under the age of 16 to undergo eye tests after every 12 months.
Dr Mahlaka said children were the most affected by chronic allergies, especially in rural places compared to cities and towns.
He said if not treated, chronic allergies could result in blindness.

He added that chronic allergies mainly affected the sclera (the white part of the eye) which turns from white to red and later to a brownish colour.
“Irritation of the sclera often causes a build up of a layer that feels like sores and when it covers the cornea (front part of the eye) the transparency is lost, hence blindness.
It is costly to reverse such conditions,” he said.

“The earlier you diagnose the better the pre-diagnosis. Don’t tire from taking and using eye drops as in most instances chronic allergies are hard to control or cure.
Therefore the only solution is constant supply of eye drops,” Dr Mahlaka explained.
He said most parents had a tendency to seaze medical checkups and administration of eye drops, which he described as risky as it can lead to blindness.
He advised that parents should look out for allergic agents such as dust or pollen.
Dr Mahlaka further said children were affected by trachoma mainly caused by unhygienic environments.
 He reiterated that like chronic allergies, trachoma also affected a large number of children in rural or undeveloped settlements and easily spreads from one child to another through infected eye and nose secretions.
He said bacterial, fungal or viral infections could cause blindness if not diagnosed early.
In addition to infections, he said parents or care givers must be alarmed by any form of eye discharge.

He said eye discharges differed in terms of colour or thickness and emphasised that professional opinion should alkways be sought in case of descretion.
He said glaucoma was another eye disease that could affect children, as one could be born with it and is usually diagnosed within the first year of life.
He added that glaucoma was a rare condition that may be inherited, caused by incorrect development of the eye’s drainage system before birth due to under developed body as a major factor and that pre-mature born children may be at risk of the disease.
He further said generally it was difficult to detect glaucoma and it was hard to tell if one had any implications inside the eye, hence regular eye tests were mandatory.
“In most instances the time you realise there is a problem it will be too late because there has to be raised intra ocular pressure (IOP), visual fields should be affected. You can never know a child has damaged nerves or raised intra ocular pressure unless you measure it and this makes eye check and tests key,” said Dr Mahlaka.

He said there were misconceptions that eye tests had to do with spectacles, but advised that eye tests meant general check for eye health.
“As much as you do different tests, do the same for your eye health.
There are a lot of wellness activities, but people ignore or forget eye checks and tests.
It is vital to check if your eyes are healthy, especially that most serious eye diseases or conditions are not curable or reversible like glaucoma,” Dr Mahlaka advised. ENDS