World Sight Day is celebrated this Thursday under the theme "Love your eyes." An opportunity to revisit the situation in Senegal.

Taking stock of the situation, the Directorate for Disease Control has notified that it is worrying.

In fact, Senegal has only 91 ophthalmologists for a population of more than 13 million inhabitants, or one specialist for every 130,000 inhabitants.

According to the PNPSO coordinator, Dr. Moctar Dieng Badiane, the country is facing a severe shortage of specialists, but above all an inequitable distribution of these human resources. "The 91 ophthalmologists are concentrated nearly 80% on the Thiès-Dakar axis. This is where the greatest difficulty lies," he laments.

He points out, however, that efforts are underway to correct these disparities. Currently, each region has at least one ophthalmologist. Some have as many as six. Tamba and Kaffrine have two each, Saint-Louis three, and even regions that previously had none, such as Kédougou and Tambacounda, now have a specialist. In Matam, there are three: two in Ourossogui and one in Matam itself.

In addition to physicians, the country has approximately 120 ophthalmic technicians, present in almost all departments. These efforts make it possible to approach the minimum recommended ratio, but coverage remains insufficient in the face of growing needs.

A blindness still too present

The prevalence of blindness is estimated at 1.42%, representing 165,000 blind people and 550,000 visually impaired people. The main diseases covered by the program are cataracts, trachoma, childhood blindness, and refractive errors. In addition, emerging pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and eye injuries are also addressed.

Screens and children: alert on visual risks

Dr. Badiane also drew attention to children's early and excessive exposure to screens. "Before the age of three, screen access must be banned," he strongly recommends. According to him, prolonged screen use disrupts the digestion, sleep, and visual health of young children. "Looking at a screen while eating prevents children from chewing and digesting properly. Before going to sleep or first thing in the morning, screens also disrupt the sleep cycle."

He also advises working on screens in a well-lit environment, rather than in dim light, to avoid eye strain. He also encourages parents to encourage outdoor activities, as sunlight is beneficial for eye health. "If nothing changes, by 2050, half the planet will be myopic," warns Dr. Badiane.