October 12, 2017 Sammy Awami BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam [image: Inline image 1]AFP Routine eye tests can help to detect and prevent cataracts, glaucoma and blurred vision Global rates of avoidable blindness are set to increase threefold in the next four decades, warns a report by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) <http://atlas.iapb.org/>. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are feared to be most at risk. The research points to 30 years of stagnation in tackling the leading cause of avoidable blindness, especially among people aged over 50. The IAPB, an international alliance of eye care organisations, believes this stagnation is partly due to a rise in the world's ageing population Cataracts, glaucoma and untreated cases of blurred vision are some of the leading causes of blindness, according to the report published in the Lancet medical journal. A lack of resources is blamed for sub-Saharan Africa's failure to match the progress seen in higher income countries, the report says, highlighting the need for a massive increase in eye care provision. -- Ann Marie "The art of living consists of knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore." -- Mardy Grothe ################################################################################################# Join the African Association of Madison, Inc. for $25 per year. Mail check to: AAM, PO Box 1016, Madison, WI 53701 Phone: 608-258-0261 Email: [log in to unmask] Web: www.AfricanAssociationofMadison.org ################################################################################################# *** Send email to the list: [log in to unmask] *** *** Access AAM list archives: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/AAM.html ***