Looking at the Numbers of Childhood blindness…
The prevention of avoidable visual impairment will be achieved only if effective, efficient, comprehensive eye health-care services are integrated into well-managed, well-monitored national health systems.
STRABISMUS // CROSSED EYES
Strabismus is a lack of alignment between both eyes. Both eyes can not focus on the same object at the same time.
MYOPIA // NEARSIGHTED
Myopia is when objects are seen clearly when up close, but objects are seen blurry when are far away.
HYPEROPIA // FARSIGHTED
Hyperopia is when objects are seen clearly at a distance, but objects are seen blurry close-up.
ASTIGMATISM
Astigmatism is when vision is blurry at any distance due to a lack of a single focus cause by the shape of the cornea.
AMBLYOPIA // LAZY EYE
Amblyopia; vision in one eye is impaired because the eye and the brain are not working together. The brain will suppress the weaker eye and will take images from the stronger eye. If the condition goes untreated the weaker eye may become useless.
FAILURE TO RECEIVE FOLLOW UP
Two studies published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology find 40 – 67% of children who fail a vision screening do not receive the recommended follow-up care by an eye doctor.
100,000 AMERICAN CHILDREN GO BLIND NEEDLESSLY
Each year more than 100,000 American children go blind needlessly, simply because they did not receive an eye exam.
BLINDNESS CAN BEEN AVOIDED
75% of all blindness could have been avoided. Source: WHO, Vision 2020 report
500,000 CHILDREN BECOME BLIND EACH YEAR
About 500 000 children become blind each year, mostly in developing countries, roughly equivalent to one child becoming blind each minute.