- Problems such as diabetes, hypertension and frequent exposure to screens have increased the incidence of vision problems.
The main eye problems affecting the Mexican population are glaucoma, myopia and diabetic retinopathy, explained Dr. Brenda Alegria García Losa, Academic Director of the San Angel Eye Group and former President of the Western Glaucoma Association, who was interviewed at the signing of the agreement. between the Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG) and the San Angel Ophthalmological Group, during which an agreement was reached that the academic institution supports the higher specialties in the field of clinical and surgical retina and anterior segment.
The specialist explained that glaucoma is the main cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, the most alarming thing is that it is hushed up; For this reason, the expert recommends to society a culture of vision prevention, visiting an ophthalmologist at least once a year to detect this disease at an early stage.
Glaucoma is an eye disease characterized by an increase in pressure in the eyeball, causing progressive damage to the retina, which can even lead to loss of vision.
“There are currently over 60 million people in the world who have this disease and at least 30 to 40 percent do not know they have this type of disease and as adult life expectancy is increasing as it is now 71 year. years, but in 2050 it will be 81 years, so this figure is expected to double,” said Dr. Garcia Losa.
An estimated 1.5 million people in Mexico suffer from glaucoma; however, 80 percent do not know they have one.
Factors such as heredity, diabetes and hypertension are among the causes of glaucoma. One of the recommendations that allows you to detect this disease in time and take action is to undergo an eye examination at least once a year.
“By detecting it at an early stage, it can be prevented, even at stages with risk factors that can be identified in the population to prevent irreversible disease, but more importantly, it is about preventing blindness,” emphasized Dr. Garcia Losa.
Be careful with screens!
Nowadays, we often use screens at any time, whether at home, at school or at work, computers, tablets and mobile phones have become very common; however, do not overuse it as it may damage your eyesight.
One condition that is on the rise due to frequent screen exposure, especially among younger people, is nearsightedness, explained Dr. Garcia Losa.
This disease causes the person suffering from it to see distant objects as blurry.
One recommendation to follow is not to expose children to screens; the most appropriate would be to allow them to use devices of this type from the age of 4.
“It’s very common now for children to be given tablets, so it’s not recommended for children under 4 to use digital devices, and if so, then limit them to only two hours a day,” the specialist said.
“Because this entire generation and the entire population is at risk for quite severe myopia in adulthood; that in fact we are already seeing this in adolescents, but at a very significant increase, not counting the dry eye syndrome at a very preterm age.
devastating effects of diabetes
Mexico is among the countries with the highest incidence of diabetes, which is a burden on health systems due to the consequences it causes, including on the eyes.
It is diabetic retinopathy that is another serious problem affecting the vision of Mexicans, since it is this pathology that causes the greatest visual impairment in Mexico.
And the fact is that diabetes is now occurring in more and more young people, between the ages of 35 and 40, which in the long term leads to very serious visual impairment.
“Diabetic retinopathy causes irreversible blindness in people of productive age, and when it strikes mom or dad, it destroys families,” said Dr. Miguel Ángel Carvajal Quiñones, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grupo San Ángel Oftalmologia.
He added that, according to the Mexican Social Security Institute, between 55 and 60 percent of the population in Mexico have some form of vision problem.
Finally, Dr. Alfonso Ramiro Sanchez López, Director of Postgraduate Medical Sciences at UAG, noted that it is clear that specialists specialized in the treatment and prevention of all diseases that cause vision problems will be needed.
Faced with this challenge, and with UAG’s distinctive commitment to contributing and positively impacting society, he signed a Masters in Clinical and Surgical Retinal and Anterior Segment endorsement agreement with Grupo San Ángel Ophthalmology to offer more and better. tools to prepare and grow the contribution of world-class leaders in the health sector.
In addition, UAG and the San Angel Eye Group are collaborating on negotiations and campaigns to identify vision problems in the university community and society at large.