Preventing 5 Major Eye Diseases with Sunglasses and a Wide-Brimmed Hat

According to Salamat News Agency (Tasnim), Dr. Seyed Farzad Mohammadi pointed out that a significant portion of vision disorders is preventable. He stated that on World Sight Day, we examine how we can support policymakers in reducing the preventable causes of blindness.

The head of the Eye Health and Blindness Prevention Department at the Ministry of Health added that disabilities caused by blindness, as well as proper rehabilitation in terms of employment, citizenship, and functional aspects, should be considered. Public awareness and information, both for policymakers and the public, are essential to make people more sensitive to their vision health.

Mohammadi also mentioned that the slogan for this year's World Sight Day in Iran is "self-care for your eyes." He emphasized that while health systems have a responsibility to provide services in this area, prevention and reducing disease burden also rely significantly on citizens' correct health choices.

He highlighted the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle and regular eye checkups as essential actions individuals should take for their eye health. Citizens should not be passive regarding their eye health, as health systems cannot take on all roles.

The head of the Eye Health and Blindness Prevention Department said: "Our children study for 12 years, but they have limited knowledge about their own health, including eye health, and as a result, health literacy in society is low."

Mohammadi further explained that sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats reduce the risk of cataracts, pterygium, eyelid cancers, and problems affecting the surface and inside of the eye. Also, healthy nutrition, especially in middle age, can prevent up to 40% of severe retinal aging that leads to blindness.

He continued: "Following dietary guidelines to reduce heart diseases and strokes is also beneficial for retinal health. This decreases the risk of cataracts, improves dry eye conditions, and reduces the need for eye drops."

According to the Ministry of Health, Mohammadi also recommended that children avoid excessive computer use and spend more time outdoors, such as in schools or while exercising outside. Maintaining a balance between near and far visual tasks, hiking, and being outdoors plays a role in visual balance and reduces vision disorders, which can lessen the need for glasses.

Finally, he noted that an appropriate lifestyle can reduce the incidence of eye diseases by one-third and some cancers by up to one-tenth, as well as delay retinal degeneration by up to 10 years. World Sight Day is celebrated on the second Thursday of October each year, corresponding to October 19th this year.