Partnership with Asian Eye Institute

Found this old article of our collaboration with the Asian Eye Institute in providing eye services to its adopted communities. We are still Cataract Foundation then.

Annual Report 2020

We thank our Partners, Donors and Stakeholders that amid the pandemic, we are still able to pull through these numbers and able to help people see and hear better. We couldn't achieve this without your valuable support. 

Sharing with you the fruits of our work collaboration and together, let us hope for a better 2021. Onwards to our common vision that No Filipino should go needlessly Deaf/ Blind.

Our hEARing Center services

Check your EYEsight

Gusto mo bang malaman kung kailangan mo ng magpa-appointment sa eye doctor? Subukan mo itong sagutan para malaman. It's a series of 14 questions lang naman. Click lang ang hyperlink sa baba.

20/20 pa ba? 

Dapat bang gumamit ng anti-rad glasses?

Lately, may mga katanungan akong natatanggap kung okay bang gumamit o bumili ng trend ngayon online na anti-rad (anti-radiation) na salamin? Mahaba talaga ang screen time mo sa mga panahong ito trabaho man o pag-aaral ang dahilan kaya natural lang na pag-isipan kung paano pangalagaan ang ating mga mata. 

Napa-Google tuloy ako kung ano nga ba ang available na rekomendasyon ng ating mga doktor sa mata at napa-click ako dito sa write up mula sa website ng American Academy of Ophthalmology. Pinamakaganda po nating gawin ay sundin kung ano ang ipinapayo ng mga ophthalmologist/ optometrist kasi sila naman ang ating espesyalista sa mata.

Are computer glasses worth it?

Written By: Celia Vimont

Reviewed By: Rahul Khurana, MD

Apr. 27, 2017

Eyeglasses that claim to filter out blue light from computers, smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly popular. Ads for these glasses claim overexposure to blue light can cause a number of problems. The problems supposedly linked to blue light range from dry eyes to digital eye strain, sleep cycle disruption and even macular degeneration, which causes people to lose some or all of their central vision. However there is no evidence that the kind or amount of light coming from computer screens is damaging to the eyes.

"People are very worried that we're looking at our screens more than we ever did," Academy spokesman Rahul Khurana, MD, told Business Insider. "Everyone is very concerned that it may be harmful to the eye, and it's a valid concern, but there's no evidence it may be causing any irreversible damage."

The Academy does not recommend any special eye wear for computer use.

Should You Be Worried About Blue Light and Computer Radiation?

There is evidence that some kinds of light exposure can cause eye damage under certain conditions. For instance, too much exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun does raise the risks of eye diseases, including cataracts, growths on the eye and cancer.

The amount of radiation coming from a computer has never been demonstrated to cause any eye disease. A study reprinted by the National Library of Medicine found no measurable UVA or UVB radiation from computer monitors. UV radiation is the most harmful part of sunlight for eyes and skin. The Radiation Protection Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology summarizes current research about computer monitors’ radiation by saying that "there are no data to suggest a health risk from exposure to the electromagnetic fields associated with the use of monitors."

Long hours staring at digital screens can cause eye strain, and decreased blinking associated with computer use can cause dry eyes. But these effects are caused by how people use their screens, not by anything coming from the screens.

You can protect your eyes from strain if you work with computers all day:

• Sit about 25 inches (arm's length) from the computer screen. Position the screen so you are gazing slightly downward.
• Reduce screen glare by using a matte screen filter if needed.
• Take regular breaks using the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• When your eyes feel dry, use artificial tears to refresh them.
• Adjust your room lighting and try increasing the contrast on your screen to reduce eye strain.
• If you wear contact lenses, give your eyes a break by wearing your glasses.

Many eye symptoms caused by computer use are only temporary and will lessen after you stop using the computer.

The Academy recommends that everyone get a baseline eye exam by the age of 40. Getting regular comprehensive eye exams from an ophthalmologist is critical to diagnosing any potential eye disease in its early stages.

The Academy also recommends that people over age 65 get an exam every one to two years, even if they have no symptoms of eye problems. 

So, base po sa nabasa natin sa taas, hindi nirirekomenda ng ating mga espesyalista ang anti-rad glasses. Limitahan lang po natin ang exposure at paggamit ng mga gadgets at sundin ang Rule 20-20-20. Ang naglipanang mga anti-rad ngayon sa online shopping ay bahagi pa rin ng negosyo para kumita. Pero ngayong alam mo na, pakisabihan po ang iba. -ror-

Blindness and Visual Impairment Prevalence in the Philippines

Sharing here the summary result of the Philippine National Survey of Blindness and Eye Disease study conducted by the Philippine Eye Research Institute for those looking for the latest prevalence on blindness and visual impairments.

 

Overall cataract surgeries in the Philippines 2019

PhilHealth listed 105,683 cataract surgeries claims in 2019. EYE hEAR Foundation together with our partners did a total of 8,333 of which 4,464 are non-PhilHealth or did not utilize their PhilHealth. 

In the pie below, it shows that 7% of the total cataract surgeries done was done by us and partners

Whereas, in the pie chart illustrated below, of our total cataract surgeries output, more than half (56%) did not claim PhilHealth. It does not necessarily mean they are not members of the national health insurance but they could be members but cannot file reimbursement due to the standing circular of PhilHealth that when it's done in an outreach or what they call a 'mission' setup, the doctors or the hospitals cannot claim. May pre-approval po kasi ang cataract surgery na niri-release ng PhilHealth bago mai-skedyul ang operasyon at hindi natin ito magagawa o maaasikaso sa setup ng Outreach. Ang circular na ito at ang isa pang circular na nagsasabing ang ophthalmologist ay maari lamang gumawa ng limampung (50) surgeries sa isang buwan ay halimbawa ng pagkokontrol na nakikita nating hindi makatao at hindi patient-centered na desisyon ng PHilHealth. Para sa amin, isa itong balakid para matamo o maabot natin ang ating hangarin na wala sanang Pilipino na nabubulag na hindi naman dapat. 

Sana marinig at maaksyonan na ang ating matagal ng adbokasiya sa Department of Health at PhilHealth. 

No Filipino should go needlessly blind.

How do we help prevent Blindness

Some of the activities we (used to) do to prevent blindness:

• Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening and Treatment
• Vision screening in communities and schools
• Primary Eye Care training for Information, Education and Campaign
• Eye surgeries such as cataract, pterygium, glaucoma, squint, etc. with partners or we conduct outreaches in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area
• Partnerships and collaboration with other Civil Society Organizations and other groups.