LIFESTYLE NEWS - World Sight Day, observed globally on Thursday, 8 October under this year's theme #LoveYourEyes, is highlighting the importance of accessible eye care in South Africa, where vision impairment continues to affect millions of people.

More than 11% of South Africa's population is reported to experience vision impairment, while more than 80% of blind people live in under-resourced and rural communities where access to eye-care services remains limited.

The situation is particularly concerning because about 80% of blindness in South Africa is considered avoidable or treatable. Uncorrected refractive errors and untreated cataracts account for a significant proportion of these cases.

Access and affordability remain among the key challenges facing South Africans in need of eye care. 

While major metropolitan areas such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban have access to established optometric services, many people living in townships and rural communities can go years without receiving a basic eye examination.

Untreated vision impairment can have a significant impact on people's daily lives, including children's ability to learn, employment opportunities and road safety. It can also contribute to substantial productivity losses for the economy.

“Clear vision is something most people only appreciate once it’s fading,” says Eela Makan, an optometrist from Spec-Savers South Africa.

Makan says people can live with treatable conditions, including refractive errors and early-stage cataracts, because travelling to a clinic or covering the cost of an eye examination may be difficult.

“This year's theme, #LoveYourEyes, is about shifting eye care from an afterthought to an essential health routine,” Makan says.

“Good vision impacts how our children learn at school, how safely we drive on South African roads, and how we earn a living. Protecting your sight should never be a luxury reserved for a few; it needs to be accessible to every South African.”

To mark World Sight Day, Spec-Savers practices across South Africa are offering free five-minute vision screenings on a walk-in basis.

The initiative seeks to reduce some of the practical barriers to accessing basic eye-care services by removing the need for an appointment and the upfront cost of a screening.

World Sight Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye examinations and to encourage greater access to eye-care services, particularly in communities where preventable and treatable vision loss remains a challenge.

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