By Alicia Chamely
ACCESS to affordable eyecare is a right, not a privilege, says the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Society (TTBWS), as it calls for increased sight screenings and early detection in children to reduce preventative blindness.
In commemoration of World Sight Day 2025: Preventable Blindness Demands Preventative Action, the TTBWS outlined four immediate priorities needed to reduce preventable blindness and expand access to early vision screening in children.
In a press release on Wednesday, the TTBWS highlighted the National Eye Survey of Trinidad and Tobago (2013-2014), which revealed the three leading causes of blindness in T&T were preventative.
Four immediate priorities laid out by the TTBWS to combat blindness were:
- Routine glaucoma checks for adults over 40 and those with family history.
- Eliminate the cataract backlog by expanding surgical capacity, reducing waiting times, and subsidising surgical supplies.
- Guarantee access to refractive services and affordable spectacles for children, workers, and older adults with visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive error.
- Ensure annual dilated retinal exams for every person with diabetes and timely access to treatment.
They further called for early screening access for all children.
The TTBWS said, “By prioritising these four areas—glaucoma, cataract, refractive error, and diabetic retinopathy—alongside early detection for children and systemic reforms, Trinidad and Tobago can drastically reduce preventable blindness.”
Executive Officer of TTBWS stated, “World Sight Day 2025 is a reminder that sight saves livelihoods and independence. Together, we can ensure that every citizen, regardless of age or income, has access to the eye care they need.”
