Myopia in Tanzania-My Approach

Abstract

Childhood myopia is now an emerging issue in Tanzania. Today, billions of people around the world are struggling with the condition of myopia. This number is only expected to increase in the future and Africa is no exception. In Tanzania, due to increasing usage of smart phones and Visual Display Units (VDUs) there is an emerging Myopia in children as well as in adults. Data that documents the effects of visual impairment due to refractive error across the country is scant, however. Admittedly there exists a lack of lack of Ophthalmic /Optometry services leading to uncorrected refractive error that is a cause of vision impairment. Increases in life expectancy in Tanzania, and decreases in time spent outdoors, coupled with increased time spent staring at screens each day plays a part as well.