As part of the 'Illness to Wellness' campaign, the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), an apex industry body, hosted a webinar on 'Managing Eye Care'.

This also coincides with the month of February being observed as Low Vision Awareness Month. The main objective behind the event was to create awareness on prevention of low vision problems, eye-related critical diseases and blindness and maintaining an overall healthy vision for life. Underscoring the rising issue of low vision in India, (Padma Shri) Dr (Prof) A. K. Grover, Chairman, Vision Eye Centres & Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said that the process of seeing is a gift of nature and the most structural and functional marvel organ in the body.

He added: "The human eye has a resolution of 375-mega pixels. It's a natural camera with a peripheral vision and it transfers the message to the brain to figure out the colours, movements etc." He went on to say that the cataract is the most common cause of blindness in India and that diabetes is to be blamed for the massive number of damaged eyes.

Other causes are corneal opacities, cataract surgical complications (including PCO), diseases of retina and glaucoma. The data shows that even though the rate of blindness has decreased due to sustained efforts through the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB) which decreased the prevalence of blindness, a whole lot more needs to be done. "In India, one out of every 50 people over the age of 50 is blind," he said, adding that the government has made ongoing efforts in collaboration with non-government organisations, but primary eye-care in rural areas remains a challenge.

To maintain perfect eye vision, a person should consume antioxidants, fruits, and vegetables, eat a balanced diet, and exercise. Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, in his welcome address, said: Good vision contributes to our improved physical abilities, learning and comprehension skills and a better quality of life. Therefore, keeping an eye on your vision health is undoubtedly an essential component of good health and overall wellness."

Highlighting the ill-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's eyes, he said: "The switch to digital learning over the last two years has led to young students staying indoors and spending long hours in front of their TVs, IPads and mobiles. Therefore, having a balanced diet, along with adequate lighting in the room while studying, correct sitting posture, controlled screen time and regular eye exercises are key points to be kept in mind for maintaining healthy eyes among children."

Dr Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control, Delhi-NCR moderated the session. He said: "Eyes are our window to the world - it's only because of our eyes that we can perceive all the beauty of this world. Conversely, eyes are also a window to our body - by looking inside your eyes doctors can figure out a lot that is happening inside your body".

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in India due to a sedentary lifestyle, according to Dr Subina Narang, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Chandigarh. All diabetics should have regular eye exams every 3-6 months, as directed by an ophthalmologist, in order to diagnose and treat this disease before any vision loss occurs. At the time of their diabetes diagnosis, approximately 27 per cent of patients have retinopathy. She added that a 15-minute break for eye rest can be taken after 45 minutes of reading activity.

Dr Reena M Choudhry, Director, (Sankara Nethralaya) Glaucoma Services, Senior Consultant Glaucoma and Cataract Services & Chief Operating Officer, ICARE Eye Hospital and PG Institute, Noida, motivated the audience with an eye organ transplant theory and how it works. People can reach out to the nearest national helpline of Eye Bank Association of India and pledge to donate their eyes after their death that can help two people at once, she added.