The mayor of Pattaya Khun Itthipon presided over a meeting to launch a new project called "Bright Eyes" The "Bright Eyes Project" aims to bring more public awareness of the problems that people, particularly older people have with cataracts. The objective is to prevent and reduce the rate of cataract blindness. And improve access to cataract surgery.
Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens inside the eye, which is normally clear. Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes. A normally clear lens allows light to pass through to the back of the eye, so that the patient can see well-defined images. If a part of the lens becomes opaque light does not pass through easily and the patent's vision becomes blurry. Eventually if cataracts develop in both eyes blindness can result.
Cataract is a disease that is the main cause of blindness in Thailand. Especially in the elderly aged 50 years and above who are 80 percent more likely to develop cataracts than younger folks. Cataracts develop often in patients suffering from diabetes so patients suffering from cataracts should be checked for diabetes and diabetics should pay more visits to their ophthalmologists to have their eyes checked out.
Fortunately nowadays cataracts can be treated and near normal sight restored in most patients. The most effective treatment methods are lens replacement surgery and lasik surgery.
The "Bright Eyes Project" plans to work closely with experienced ophthalmologists from the major Pattaya hospitals like Banglamung hospital for screening of those most vulnerable to cataracts, the elderly and diabetics and give citizens access to affordable surgical treatments like lens replacement.
