Vision problems – why do we have more and more of them?

As we surf the Internet, time and again we come across information that Poles are experiencing more and more problems with their eyesight. The numbers work most on the imagination.

• 90% of Polish men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 have various eye and vision problems
• Almost every 5th Pole has his eyesight examined once every 5 years or less often
• 70% of adult Poles in 2020 have not undergone a visual acuity test at all
• More than 60% of our compatriots have a diagnosed visual impairment
• 69% of Poles admit that working and learning remotely during the pandemic, or to put it simply: the increased number of hours spent in front of smartphone, tablet or laptop screens, has worsened the quality of their vision
• Nearly half of us are short-sighted
• 47.2% of people who visit ophthalmologists require astigmatism correction

Among the most common causes of eye diseases worldwide are: refractive defects that translate into visual acuity viz: myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, also known as presbyopia (42%), cataract (33%), and glaucoma (2%). The predominant cause of blindness is cataracts (51%), followed by glaucoma (8%) and macular degeneration (AMD).

Of course, too many hours spent in front of smartphone, tablet or laptop screens is not the only reason for the deterioration of our eyesight. Before the digitization of life reached today’s level, for decades reading too many books – especially in poor lighting – was considered the main cause of the formation and aggravation of the most common visual defect, myopia. Meanwhile, in the vast majority of cases, myopia is associated with abnormal eye structure, and the conditions cited above only accelerate its rapid development.

Working remotely and the fact that we take a break by flipping from a company computer to a private one also generates such ailments as eye fatigue, visual focus problems, pain and discomfort in the eyeball, blurred vision, and even sleep problems and headaches, among others.

Up to three times apiece

One possible answer to the question of why we have more and more vision problems is evident in the figures cited: we visit the ophthalmologist too infrequently. Many people put off an eye exam until they notice a significant change in their vision. For adults, the standard recommendation is to have their eyesight checked once every two years. If we have already been diagnosed with a vision defect, we should undergo such an inspection every year. Similarly, if we are over 40 (risk of presbyopia) or have a family history of diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma – even if they are not accompanied by a visual defect. Although prevention is not our forte, we need to know that if there are no previous indications, the first preventive eye examination a child should undergo between 2-3 years of age. Subsequent eye examinations should be carried out each time during the so-called balance sheet.

The second answer should take into account the fact that Polish society is aging rapidly. According to demographic projections by the Central Statistical Office, in Poland in 2050 the share of people of working age in the population will be 57%, those over 65 years of age – as much as 32.7%, while those of pre-working age – less than 11%3. With age, refractive defects can be joined by presbyopia and/or cataracts. When we have to deal with several vision problems at the same time, the comfort of vision drastically decreases. If we have not previously decided to undergo laser vision correction, now we have the opportunity to undergo surgery, during which all the listed problems will be removed simultaneously – we mean refractive lens replacement. On the other hand, delaying the procedure can be risky: the anatomical condition of our eyes in old age may make it impossible to undergo the procedure. To avoid surprises, it is worthwhile to be under constant ophthalmological control – then the doctor will catch all the worrying symptoms in time and recommend an appropriate course of action in time.

Finally, the third answer, in which it is necessary to point out the significant shortcomings in the availability of ophthalmic treatment in Poland, especially the need to pay for examinations and ophthalmic procedures that are standard practice in Western Europe. Thus, we are faced with a situation in which private ophthalmic clinics already provide services on a European, not to say: world level, but the prices of these services are prohibitive for many patients. Of course, there is the possibility of paying for them in the installment system, but this does not change the fact that the number of ophthalmic clinics contracting services with the National Health Service is still too small; the National Health Service also does not reimburse laser vision correction procedures, considering them to be… cosmetic procedures! Such a poorly managed health policy in Poland is causing many public eye clinics to cease operations due to low profitability relative to private medical practices and a shortage of medical staff. Another issue concerns the quality of services offered at public ophthalmology centers. If, for example, we want to undergo cataract surgery, the problem is no longer the waiting time for the procedure, but the fact that under the operation reimbursed by the National Health Fund, the patient can only count on a standard monofocal lens – the PREMIUM lenses are out of reach here.

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly contributed to the aggravation of Poles’ vision problems also because, neglecting the already neglected prophylaxis and forgoing visits to the ophthalmologist, we saved ourselves by buying cheap ready-made glasses from the drugstore or market or, perhaps worst of all, from the bazaar. Although almost 80% of Poles are aware of the dangers of using such glasses while forgoing consultation with a specialist, and so we reach for them more and more often! This is a solution acceptable only in emergency situations, such as when we have forgotten our reading glasses from home, and we need to meet with someone on an important matter and be able to read the documents given to us.