Common reasons for eye health problems
Instruction
In this topic you will learn about common reasons for eye health problems.
Causes of eye health problems
Eye health problems can be caused by:
- Diabetes
- Eye infections
- Lifestyle and environmental risks.
Diabetes
Diabetes can affect eye health. Over time this can cause vision loss or blindness. However, this can be prevented if problems are identified early.
For this reason, it is important to ask parents/caregivers if a child has diabetes.
A child with diabetes should:
- Be under the care of a doctor or a diabetes service
- Have regular reviews of their vision by trained eye care personnel.
Discussion
Discuss with colleagues:
- Where do people who have diabetes go for treatment in your area?
- How do you refer people to these services?
Eye infections
Eye infections in children are common. They can cause swelling, redness, and discomfort around the eyes. Some infections and swelling of the eye only need simple treatment.
If not treated early, eye infections may lead to:
- The need for more serious treatment such as surgery
- Permanent damage to the eyes.
Question
Infections are one cause of swelling around the eyes. What might be other causes of swelling?
Select three.
If you selected a, b and c you are correct!
d is incorrect.
Vision problems do not cause swelling around the eyes. Vision problems may cause difficulties seeing clearly.
Lifestyle and environmental risks
A person’s lifestyle and environment can lead to vision and eye health problems.
Instruction
Learn more about lifestyle and environmental risks in Tips for healthy eyes and ears. For more information on how most eye or ear health problems can be prevented or managed, refer to the WHO health promotion materials in the Vision and hearing screening for school-age children implementation handbook.
Meet Ionita
Ionita is a teenager. She uses spectacles for near vision to read more easily.
When Ionita was younger she liked to read a lot and did not spend much time playing outdoors.
She developed vision problems when she was seven years old.
Instruction
Check your knowledge of how lifestyle and environment can lead to vision and eye health problems by answering the following questions.
Question
1. Spending lots of time in bright sunlight can lead to ear problems later in life.
Is this statement true or false?
False is correct!
Spending lots of time in bright sunlight can lead to eye problems later in life. Wearing a large hat or sunglasses can help.
2. Encouraging children to spend 90 minutes outdoors every day can reduce the need for spectacles.
Is this statement true or false?
True is correct!
Spending time outdoors every day is important for healthy eyes and may reduce the need for spectacles.
3. Rubella, measles, mumps and meningitis can cause damage to both vision and hearing.
Is this statement true or false?
True is correct!
Vaccinations can help prevent these diseases which can damage a child’s vision and/or hearing.