[india-drug] World Sight Day

["Medicine Information Centre" <medinfo@niper.ac.in>]

World Sight Day
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 11.10.2006

Dear group members,

As you all might be aware that second thursday of October is "World Sight Day". Below is the brief write up for this day. 


WORLD SIGHT DAY 2006

(12th October)

"World Sight Day" is an annual event focusing on the problem of global blindness; it aims to raise public awareness around the world about the prevention and treatment of loss of vision.

Approximately 37 million people worldwide are blind and 75% of blindness is avoidable. It is known that 24 million people have low vision - many cannot be cured, but their lives can be transformed by low vision devices and services.

The "World Sight Day" is organized on 2nd Thursday of October every year since 2000. The theme for the "World Sight Day" 2006 is "Prevention, Control & Management of Blindness & Visual Impairment due to Diabetic Retinopathy". 

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease and a leading cause of blindness. In the earliest phase of the diabetic retinopathy, the arteries in the retina become weakened and leak, forming small, dot-like hemorrhages.  These leaking vessels often lead to swelling or edema in the retina and decreased vision. Most of the cases of severe vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy are preventable, but it requires awareness.

World Sight Day 2006 is all about people: low vision and refractive services change people's lives, by helping them to see better, enabling them to learn better, work better and play better. This day provides an opportunity to become more aware and more committed to ensuring the right to sight for all. 

Therefore, be careful for your own eyesight & for those whom you know. 



Regards,

Ms.Sukhpreet
Medicine Information Pharmacist
Medicine Information Centre at NIPER, Mohali
medinfo@niper.ac.in