Undercorrected Refractive Errors

Undercorrected short-sightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism and other refractive errors are problems which can be fixed easily.

All that is needed is a pair of spectacles with lenses that correct the refractive errors. Yet, these errors, especially short-sightedness, remain uncorrected in about five per cent of the population. The problem can become so severe that it is the second most common reason for blindness here.

Undercorrected refractive errors were responsible for causing blindness in almost 20 per cent of people who lost their vision in both eyes, the Singapore Malay Eye Study in 2006 found. People with severe short-sightedness can develop complications that can blind them permanently, although this happens very rarely.

Short-sightedness or myopia, which causes people to have difficulty seeing objects that are far away, is a growing problem here. A 1997 study on 15,000 army conscripts, aged 18 to 23, found that 79 per cent had myopia, up from 26 per cent in the 1970s. Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long and is unable to focus light rays on the retina, the membrane in the back of the eye on which images are formed.

The condition progresses most rapidly during childhood. The risk of developing it is higher for children who read more than two books a week and spend little time outdoors. To prevent it from developing or worsening, take regular vision breaks – five-minute breaks from reading or writing – and spend more time outdoors.

Top 5 causes of blindness:
1. Cataract
2. Undercorrected refractive errors
3. Glaucoma
4. Macular degeneration
5. Diabetic Retinopathy