Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai marks World Sight Day 2007

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (MEHD), the newly opened specialist eye care hospital in Dubai Health Care City, marks the occasion with a reminder that adults should have their eyes checked every two years, and that children should be tested after the age of three.

The World Sight Day initiative aims to make people aware that 75% of blindness is preventable and treatable. This year's theme is Vision for Children, highlighting the fact that every five seconds one person in our world goes blind, and a child goes blind every minute. 1.4 million children globally are currently blind, up to 50% from avoidable causes.

Dr. Chris Canning, MEHD's CEO and Medical Director, said: "Many childhood eye problems can be detected early and treated before they become permanent. A general rule is that children should be tested for eye problems at the age of three."

For adults, Dr. Canning recommends regular eye checks every two years to detect treatable problems such as glaucoma before they reach a critical stage. He also recommends that the eyes be protected from bright sunlight, and states that a cap with a visor is as good as sunglasses for sun protection.

Dr. Canning is particularly strong in his warning about smoking: "A recent study has determined that smokers have four times the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in the Western world. Even when someone quits smoking after some time, their risk is increased by three times. I cannot stress the danger enough: do not start smoking, and if you smoke, quit now. Your eyesight is precious."

World Sight Day is supported by the member organisations of the VISION 2020 initiative, which include eye care institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), professional associations and concerned corporations, united in working together to eliminate avoidable blindness.