SPECS 2030

SPECS 2030

News: In response to crisis surrounding vision problems, the 74th World Health Assembly, 2021 has embarked on an initiative called 'Specs 2030' to provide integrated and people-centered eye care.

What is SPECS 2030?
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to launch the SPECS 2030. The initiative's goal is to assist member states in addressing the unmet need for spectacles while ensuring the delivery of quality eye care.
• It has the mission to support Member States with the achievement of the 74th World Health Assembly endorsed 2030 target on effective refractive error coverage.
• The initiative calls for coordinated global action amongst all stakeholders across 5 strategic pillars, in line with the letters of SPECS, to address the key challenges to improving refractive error coverage.

What is Refractive error of vision?
• Refractive error of vision is a common eye condition that affects the way light is focused on the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye), leading to blurred or distorted vision. This condition can manifest in various forms and severity levels.

Types of Refractive errors
• Myopia (Nearsightedness) - Difficulty seeing distant objects, clear near vision. Light focuses in front of the retina.
• Hypermetropia (Farsightedness) - Difficulty seeing nearby objects, relatively clear distant vision. Light focuses behind the retina.
• Presbyopia - Age-related difficulty focusing on close objects, typically around middle age.
• Astigmatism - Blurred or distorted vision at any distance. Irregular cornea or lens shape causes uneven light focus.
• The most common symptom is blurry vision. Other symptoms include Double vision, Hazy vision, Seeing a glare or halo around bright lights, Headaches, and Eye strain.

Impact of Vision impairment
• According to WHO, over 2.2 billion people globally suffer from compromised eyesight.
• A staggering 90% of individuals with vision impairment or blindness reside in low- and middle-income countries.
• By 2050, it is projected that 50% of the world's population will be myopic. It is predicted that half of the world's population will require glasses in the near future.
• According to the WHO, at least 100 million Indians need spectacles but have no access to them.
• Vision impairment results in a significant global economic loss of approximately USD 410.7 billion. The cost of ensuring access to eye care and treatment for all is estimated at USD 24.8 billion, according to the WHO.

Need of the hour:
• Implementing strategies to reduce screen time, encouraging outdoor activities, and monitoring children's eye health can help combat myopia.
• Encouraging individuals of all ages to undergo regular eye check-ups is essential for early detection and intervention.
• Building infrastructure for accessible eye care services, especially in remote and underserved areas, is critical.