Regular Eye Exams Are Crucial for Maintaining Good Vision, According to Igor Grichenko
World Ophthalmologist Day, celebrated annually on August 8th, is a significant day in the medical community. This day was established in 2004 to honour ophthalmologists, raise awareness about eye disease issues, and celebrate their contributions to the field. One of the individuals honoured on this day is the renowned Russian ophthalmologist, scientist, and surgeon, Svyatoslav Fyodorov.
This year, the focus of World Ophthalmologist Day was on preventing high myopia, a condition that is expected to affect half of the world's population by 2050, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Three leading ophthalmologists, Igor Grishchenko, Diana Gubareva, and Lyudmila Avdeikina, discussed the strategies for preventing high myopia on the popular Russian program, "Details."
Igor Grishchenko, Vice-Chairman of the Association of Ophthalmologists, Associate Professor of the Department of Eye Diseases at KubGMAU, and surgeon at GKB No. 1, is a top-category ophthalmologist who holds the title of Candidate of Medical Sciences. He, along with Gubareva, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Disease Prevention, Healthy Lifestyle, and Epidemiology at KubGMAU, and Avdeikina, an ophthalmologist at the Ministry of Health's Mostovskaya Central District Hospital, emphasised the importance of behavioural interventions, optical strategies, pharmaceutical approaches, and advanced contact lens therapies in preventing high myopia in children.
The key strategies discussed include increased outdoor time, optical interventions such as diversified segmental defocus optimization (DSDO) spectacle lenses, pharmaceutical treatments like low-dose atropine, and advanced contact lens therapies aimed at delaying onset and controlling progression of myopia in children. School-based prediction and intervention programs, which allow targeted early interventions, were also highlighted as important in managing high myopia.
The discussion on "Details" focused on how to prevent high myopia, a condition that is associated with significant vision complications later in life. These strategies, when combined in personalized treatment plans, can effectively prevent high myopia.
Svyatoslav Fyodorov, another celebrated ophthalmologist, made significant contributions to the development of ophthalmology, particularly in the development and implementation of new eye disease treatment methods. World Ophthalmologist Day serves as a reminder of the important work being done by ophthalmologists like Fyodorov, Grishchenko, Gubareva, and Avdeikina.
In conclusion, World Ophthalmologist Day is a day to honour and celebrate ophthalmologists for their contributions to the field and to raise awareness about eye disease issues. This year's focus on preventing high myopia highlights the ongoing efforts to ensure the preservation of vision health for future generations.
Science plays a crucial role in addressing medical conditions such as high myopia, a growing concern in eye health. Health-and-wellness experts, like Igor Grishchenko, Diana Gubareva, and Lyudmila Avdeikina, emphasize a combination of behavioral interventions, optical strategies, pharmaceutical approaches, and advanced contact lens therapies for preventing high myopia in children. Mental health is equally important, as the preservation of vision health for future generations relies not only on medical advancements, but also on understanding and implementing effective strategies for managing this condition.
