More can be done to look after our eyes

ON WEDNESDAY, one day before World Sight Day, the World Health Organization issued its first World Report on Vision, which shows that at least 2.2 billion people are blind or have impaired vision. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

Of the 2.2 billion people who suffer from vision impairment, at least 1 billion have an eye problem that could have been prevented or which has yet to be addressed, which is "unacceptable", as Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said.

For individuals, vision impairment creates inconveniences in their daily lives and lowers their quality of life. For society, the high incidence of vision impairment means a reduced labor force and higher costs for society because special infrastructure and public service assistance are needed.