The treatment of eye conditions targets curing as well as addressing symptoms and progression. Treatment of chronic eye conditions also aims to prevent or delay the onset of irreversible vision impairment.
Surgery can remove cataracts and optical correction (i.e. spectacles, contact lenses) can eliminate the majority of refractive errors. Treatment for other eye conditions, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, pterygium, strabismus, retinopathy of prematurity, amblyopia require longer-term follow-up to control the progression of the condition. For glaucoma, ongoing management is required to reduce the risk of further progression through a number of possible treatment options including therapeutic eye drops, surgery, or a combination of these.
Treatment is also required and available for the majority of eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment, such as dry eye, conjunctivitis and blepharitis. Treatment of these conditions is often directed at alleviating the symptoms. Worthy of mention is that certain eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment, may do so, if left untreated.
Rehabilitation
Congenital vision impairment and vision impairment and blindness caused by many major eye conditions (e.g. diabetic retinopathy glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration) cannot be reversed, and rehabilitation will be required.
A broad range of vision rehabilitation interventions are available, including optical magnifiers, environmental modification (e.g. improved lighting), Braille reading, screen readers, smartphone wayfinders, counselling and home skills training, such as orientation and mobility training with white canes to ensure free, independent and safe mobility.
Blindness and vision impairment
Blindness and vision impairment affect at least 2.2 billion people around the world. Of those, 1 billion have a preventable vision impairment or one that has yet to be addressed. Reduced or absent eyesight can have major and long-lasting effects on all aspects of life, including daily personal activities, interacting with the community, school and work opportunities and the ability to access public services.
Reduced eyesight can be caused by a number of factors, including disease like diabetes and trachoma, trauma to the eyes, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. The majority of people with vision impairment are over the age of 50 years; however, vision loss can affect people of all ages. Blindness and vision loss are felt more acutely by people in low- and middle-income countries where accessibility and specific government services may be lacking. In those countries, the most common cause of vision impairment in children is congenital cataract.
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