Saudi Arabia celebrates World Sight Day

Jeddah, October 18, SPA -- The celebration of the "World Sight Day"
in Saudi Arabia entitled "Eyes on the Future - fighting vision
impairment in later life," was launched here today.


The launching ceremony for the "World Sight Day" in the Kingdom was
attended by 300 doctors and researchers in the field of vision
impairment in the public and private sectors.


The event organized EBSAR Foundation's Rehabilitation & Vision
Impairment Services with cooperation of Al-Maghrabi Hospital in
Jeddah aims at executing a number of programs, workshops and
activities to raise awareness of the various factors that lead to
visual disability and the latest methods of prevention of diseases
that cause blindness.


Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Akif Maghrabi, Founder of Ebsar
Foundation said that 80 per cent of 45 Million blind around the world
are elderly people over the age of 50 years, adding that the alarming
fact is that 90 per cent of this number belongs to the developing
countries, which does not have quality health services.

Mohammed Balu, The Director General of Ebsar Foundation said the 75%
of blindness is avoidable, adding that risks of cataract, age-related
macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy dramatically increase
with age.


The activities of the Day continues to focus on the latest research
and statistics on diseases that cause visual disability in Saudi
Arabia, especially senile cataract as the main cause of blindness,
particularly among the elderly. These will also shed light on the
latest advances in the field of retinopathy and the latest techniques
and therapy.


--SPA