1.3 Million People Will Have Cataract Problems In 10 Years' Time - Malaysia's MOH

KOTA BHARU (Kelantan, Malaysia), Oct 14 (Bernama) -- About 1.3 million people, aged 50 and above, are expected to suffer from cataract in the next five to 10 years. Malaysian Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya said cataract problems could lead to blindness if not treated early. "A national eye study conducted in 2014 on 113,000 people who suffered blindness found 58 per cent was due to cataract, followed by diabetes (10 per cent), glaucoma (seven per cent) and the rest other factors. "Based on the current Malaysian lifestyle, we foresee cataract patients are going to increase to 1.3 million people in 10 years' time," he told reporters after launching the National World Sight Day 2016 here Thursday. Dr Hilmi said the same study also found that 413,000 of the Malaysian population, aged 50 years and above, had vision problems. He said cataract surgeries could be performed at an early stage in government hospitals without having to wait for the cataract to mature to reduce risk of blindness. Dr Hilmi said the MOH provides cataract treatment in 40 specialist hospitals nationwide with an estimated 50,000 cataract surgeries performed each year. The MOH also organises the 1Malaysia Cataract Clinic (KK1M) programme to treat cataract cases systematically by establishing Cataract Free Zones across the country in addition to increasing the number of ophthalmology students, he said. In another development, Dr Hilmi said the ministry has made necessary preparations, including stocking up medical supplies in facing the monsoon season this year. "The health department in states at risk of floods have been given their respective tasks apart from ensuring sufficient medical supplies. We will also freeze staff's leave depending on circumstances," he said. At the event he also handed over spectacles to over 20 students with poor vision. --BERNAMA