“NAZAR AYENI” initiative launched by RAK Eye Care Center

The charity program focuses on “Prevention of Preventable Blindness and Visual Impairment”. Over 1200 screened in initial phase, entire population of Ras Al Khaimah to be screened as part of the community initiative.

• Every five seconds an adult goes blind. Every minute a child loses their eyesight.
• 7 million people become blind every year. 75% blindness and 80% visual impairment avoidable.

26th April 2015; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE: Nazar Ayeni” - meaning “My Eyesight” in Arabic is the first ever such program launched in RAK for the Prevention of Preventable Blindness and Visual Impairment. The initiative is in line with WHO Global Initiative to Eliminate Avoidable Blindness, "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight", which aims to eliminate causes of blindness and vision disorders as a public health problem by the year 2020. It is a Community Health Program being launched by RAK Eye Care Center in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. The objective of the CSR project is to do vision screening of all residents of Ras Al Khaimah over a period of time and identify cases where residents need further eye treatment in order to prevent preventable blindness cases. Over 1200 people have already been screened in the initial phase.

A specially designed “NAZAR AYENI” vehicle with equipments for vision screening, computer and internet connecting the vehicle to the RAK Hospital information system is being launched under the program. This will be managed by a Optometrist and a Nurse who will take the Vision Screening Vehicle to all Primary Health Centers, Communities, Government and Private Offices,  Universities and Colleges, Schools, Malls, Clubs etc in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. This will be a continuous program month on month and year on year till all the residents of Ras Al Khaimah are covered and the objective of the program is met.

As part of the initial screenings 4 Universities and 2 corporate houses have already been screened, this comprises American University, Ittihad University, University of Bolton, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University whereas the corporate houses screened are Franke LLC and Electron Group.

“It is estimated that worldwide over seven million people become blind every year whereas 75% of blindness and 80% visual impairment is avoidable. This program aims to establish RAK as the first emirate in UAE to have an epidemiological screening program for preventable blindness. Our idea is to screen the entire RAK population and identify various causes of visual impairment and blindness which will include vision screening, simple refraction, screening for corneal disorder, colour blindness, cataract, glaucoma, squint plus screening for diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration among others”, said Dr. Raza Siddiqui, CEO Arabian Healthcare Group and Executive Director of RAK Hospital

“Notwithstanding the progress in surgical intervention that has been made in many countries over the last few decades, cataract remains the leading cause of visual impairment in all regions of the world, except in the most developed countries. Other major causes of visual impairment are, in order of importance, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma”, commented Dr. Archana Sood, Senior Specialist at RAK Eye Care Center.