Kathmandu, Oct 6: World Sight Day will be observed on Thursday, Oct 8, under the theme “Love Your Eyes, Protect Your Vision,” with a focus on regular eye checks, early treatment and wider access to quality eye care.
Observed annually on the second Thursday of October, the campaign urges individuals to take better care of their eyes and governments to make eye services affordable and accessible. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness estimates that more than one billion people worldwide still lack the eye care they need.
Nepal has expanded eye care considerably since the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh was established in 1978. The country now has a wider network of hospitals, treatment centers, specialists and community programs.
Blindness prevalence has fallen from 0.84 per cent in 1981 to 0.28 per cent, according to the 2022 Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey.
However, eye health challenges are changing. Glaucoma, retinal diseases, diabetes-related vision problems, refractive errors and age-related conditions are becoming more common. Longer life expectancy, noncommunicable diseases, changing lifestyles and increased use of digital devices are adding to the risks.
Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh Executive Director Dr Shailesh Kumar Mishra said the next priority should be prevention, early detection and reaching underserved communities. Regular eye examinations should become part of routine health care rather than something people seek only after their eyesight deteriorates.
The association has treated more than 50.2 million people and performed over 5.65 million eye surgeries. It operates 28 eye hospitals and 226 treatment centers through 44 district branches.
Association President Prof Dr Chet Raj Pant said good eyesight is closely linked to education, employment, productivity and independence.
Despite progress, poverty, difficult geography and lack of awareness continue to keep some people from timely treatment.
World Sight Day therefore carries a simple message: regular screening and early treatment can protect more than eyesight. For children, good vision supports learning; for workers, it protects livelihoods; and for older people, it helps preserve independence.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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