When we talk about living healthy, the first things that often pop into mind are hitting the gym, eating your greens, and keeping those pesky pounds at bay.
But do you know what’s often overlooked? Taking care of your vision and eye health.
These two delicate organs are windows to the world, conduits of light and perception enriching every moment of our lives.
Yet, their significance often goes unnoticed until compromised. Hence, agencies such as the Ministry of Health and hospitals across the nation continue to shine a spotlight on the importance of eye health, not merely as an afterthought, but as a cornerstone of holistic well-being.
In an interview, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital Kuala Belait Optometrist Officer Hajah Wajiihah binti Haji Halias spoke about the efforts made to help shed some light on the importance of vision.
Having worked for two and a half years at the hospital, she highlighted the advancements and developments made over time to provide comprehensive eye check-ups for doctors and patients to better understand the condition and health of their eyes.
“One of the initiatives implemented that can have a positive impact on eye health is promoting the consumption of healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as food containing Vitamin A such as carrot, tomato and more,” said the optometrist officer.
While preventative measures such as this can help maintain the health of the eyes, bringing awareness to some of the common eye illnesses and diseases can help to bring a better understanding, especially for those who may be suffering in the early stages of said illnesses and diseases.
Beyond just conducting eye exams, medical professionals like Hajah Wajiihah play an important role in the eye health arena as they offer guidance on mitigating the detrimental effects of various eye conditions and diseases.
“Some of these can include near or far-sightedness, blurriness, glaucoma, cataracts, and Diabetic retinopathy,” she explained.
Consider glaucoma, often known as the ‘silent thief of sight’. This sneaky problem harms the optic nerve over time, causing permanent vision loss if not caught early. Because it advances slowly, people may not realise they have it until their vision is seriously affected, impacting their daily life.
Meanwhile, diabetic retinopathy is a problem that happens because of diabetes and can seriously affect your vision.
It happens when the blood vessels in your eyes get damaged, which can make your vision blurry.
In severe cases, it can even lead to blindness. This makes life even tougher for people already dealing with diabetes, as they have to manage both their blood sugar levels and their eyesight.
Another disease that was highlighted by the medical professional is cataracts.
They make the lens of your eye cloudy, which can make everything look blurry or foggy.
Everyday tasks like driving or reading become really hard, making people rely on others more often and feel like they’re always inconvenienced.
Experiencing clouded vision can be truly frightening, as Hajah Jasmani binti Hamdi, a cataract patient, vividly recalled the moment she realised she was affected by this eye condition.
“For the last 10 years, I have been living with cataracts. I had heard rumours of many bad experiences, the pain of cutting into the eyes and the potential loss of vision during operation, and as such I was scared to visit the doctor for those reasons.”
But as the symptoms got worse, she decided to visit a doctor who advised her to undergo the procedure.
“At the time, I was really afraid but knowing that I would be able to regain my vision kept me strong.”
To her shock, her fear turned to joy.
“I was fortunate to be in good hands by great doctors who not only did a great job in treating me but also kept me calm.”
“To my surprise, it (the operation) was not painful at all. I really came to the realisation that I have regretted living with cataracts for the past 10 years and should have visited the doctors sooner, and not listened to rumours and stories.”
With her clear conscience and clearer vision, she has come to appreciate the renewed vision that she had gradually lost for the past ten years.
“Alhamdulillah, I am now able to see more clearly than ever, especially the tiny details that eluded me before are now much clearer.”
Likewise, another individual affected by cataracts, Hajah Noraini binti Hamdi, shared how her near-sightedness was caused by this eye condition. “Before, it was quite difficult to see and even if I could, it was blurry.
“However, after the operation, I have been blessed with clear vision ever since and I don’t have to use glasses anymore.”
Ensuring the satisfaction and happiness of patients is not just a top priority for medical professionals like Hajah Wajiihah; it also sets the standard for delivering high-quality medical care to all individuals.
“I am very grateful to be able to treat patients from all age groups, from children to elderly.
“From it, I was able to learn how to better improve the optometrist service that we offer as well as work closely with other medical professionals to provide the best medical service, quality, and care to the patients.” – Daniel Lim
