No World Sight DayIt's important to remember that sight is one of the most important senses for our autonomy, safety and quality of life. Through it we perceive the world, recognise faces, interpret emotions and carry out practically all everyday activities.

Despite this, eye health is often undervalued. Many believe that they should only go to the ophthalmologist when they experience discomfort, blurred vision or other visual symptoms. However, there are several silent eye diseases which can progress slowly and painlessly, irreversibly compromising vision if not detected in time.

These include:

• Glaucoma - is characterised by high intraocular pressure that damages the optic nerve. Vision loss begins peripherally and in most cases is unnoticeable until it reaches advanced stages.
• Diabetic retinopathy - affects the blood vessels of the retina in people with diabetes. The absence of initial symptoms means that diagnosis often only occurs when there is significant visual loss.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - is one of the main causes of blindness in people over 60. It causes a progressive deterioration in central vision, which is essential for reading, driving or recognising faces.
• Cataract - although more easily detectable, can also evolve gradually, reducing the sharpness and contrast of images without causing pain.

Lack of regular monitoring may have serious and irreversible consequencesThe impact is not just physical - it affects the person's autonomy and quality of life. The impact is not just physical - it affects a person's autonomy, self-esteem and quality of life.

So, prevention and early diagnosis are key. Regular consultations with a visual health professional make it possible to identify alterations before they cause permanent damage. Even in people with no symptoms or known risk factors, regular assessment is recommended, as many of these pathologies are silent until they reach a critical point.

On this World Sight Day, the appeal is simple: value your eyes, get them checked regularly and protect your most precious asset - the ability to see the world.

👁️ Taking care of your eyesight means investing in your quality of life.