KD Hospital Walkathon Raises Awareness of Preventable Refractive Errors among Children
10.8 Children Per 100 Affected by Preventable Refractive Errors in India. Simple Solutions Like Prescription Glasses Can Safeguard Children’s Vision
Ahmedabad, Detect Early, See Bright! To mark World Sight Day 2024, KD Hospital and KD City Centre (KDCC) came together for an inspiring walkathon, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of eye care in young people. The event drew over 200 participants, including students from the KD Institute of Allied Health Sciences (KIAHS), KDCC doctors, and volunteers from the KD Foundation, uniting the community in the call to protect children’s vision.
The walkathon, which took place on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, commenced at KD City Centre and followed a route through Mansi Circle to Keshavbaug Party Plot before returning to KDCC. The event served not only as a platform for spreading awareness but also as a celebration of children’s eye health, in line with this year’s World Sight Day theme: “Love Your Eyes.”
This year’s focus is on the growing need for eye care in children. KDCC doctors emphasised the importance of annual eye examinations for young people, highlighting that children with visual impairments can face learning challenges if left undiagnosed. Uncorrected refractive error is an avoidable cause of visual impairment which affects children in India. According to the survey, the prevalence of refractive error in India is 8.0 per 100 children, and it rises to 10.8 per 100 children in schools.
Regular screenings can help detect issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism early, and simple solutions like providing children with prescription glasses can correct their vision, preventing potential complications and improving their quality of life.
In addition to promoting children’s eye health, this year’s campaign, “Love Your Eyes in Every Workplace,” encourages employers everywhere—from factory floors to office buildings—to provide quality eye care for their employees as a standard practice.
KD Hospital and KD City Centre remain committed to promoting eye health and offering cutting-edge eye care services to the community. With their ongoing initiatives, they hope to inspire children and families to take proactive steps in safeguarding their vision.
