Eye health should be a key part of workplace wellness programmes

An estimated 30% of people who experience sight loss also experience a reduction in employment. [iStockphoto]

The world is losing sight at an alarming rate. Despite advances in medicine and technology, sight loss affects around 2.2 billion people globally, a figure that is likely to increase in the absence of practical interventions.

A study by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), released on this year's World Sight Day, provides fresh impetus for countries to invest in eye health by calculating the economic cost of avoidable sight loss in every country.

According to the report, Kenya stands to save an incredible Sh22.3 billion annually by reducing sight loss caused by cataracts and refractive error, the two leading causes of vision loss. Kenya is also seen to have the highest overall return on investment for eye health interventions. Every USD1 invested in cataract treatment had an economic return of USD52 while Myopia treatment returned USD15 for every dollar, and presbyopia, USD13.

An estimated 30% of people who experience sight loss also experience a reduction in employment. By helping workers look after their eyes, employers can boost productivity, retain their staff for longer, and create healthier, happier workers - all while protecting their independence and lifetime earnings.

Introducing workplace vision screenings or connecting workers with eye health services can give people access to spectacles, increasing productivity and preventing further vision loss. An office eye health checklist including proper work ergonomics, lighting, screen settings, and frequent screen breaks can significantly reduce eye strain, as well as proper guidelines on what to do during eye injury emergencies.

Linking workers to eye health services would also ensure more people are screened and provided with spectacles when needed. Partnerships with stakeholders such as the Optometrists Association of Kenya can help increase people's access to eye health services and raise awareness in a wellness context.

The Kenyans at the highest risk of vision impairment due to occupation-related hazards or age are the workers: white-collared or blue-collared, jua kali, farmers, and the broad spectrum of the Kenyan workforce would be the biggest beneficiaries of a well-structured eye health and wellness strategy.

The reality of Vision 2030, will be seen in a healthy workforce, supporting the social, economic, and political pillars that will raise our level as a middle-income country. From another prism, Vision 2030, as relates to the World Health Summit targets on the reduction of vision impairment through reduction of cataracts and refractive errors, could be a reality with wide-scale access to health interventions. There is no better time than the present to rethink, recalibrate, and invest in the right strategies to secure Kenya's vision.

-Victor Opiyo is the President of the Optometrists Association of Kenya