A data from Indonesia’s 2023 Health Survey shows that the number of vision impairment cases is on the rise and it is concerning. 11.2 percent of people who are older than 1 year of age uses tools to help with their eyesight. Another data from the 2019’s World of Vision shows that there are 65 million of myopia cases in children. This number is predicted to continue to rise within the next few decades.
Due to the importance of increasing the awareness of maintaining the health of the eyes and protecting them, especially in this modern era that is dominated by the use of gadgets, PT Kalbe Farma Tbk (Kalbe) held an education program via an Instagram Live session of@ptkalbefarmatb, which was also held to commemorate the World Sight Day on October 10.
There are three vision impairment types that happen most often: the first is refraction, which can be classified into myopia (nearsightedness), hypermetropia (farsightedness). The next type is digital eye strain, and the third is cataract. “According to WHO, the most commonly-found eye refractions are myopia and hypermetropia – both require people to use glasses. On the other hand, a digital eye strain can happen due to the overuse of gadgets,” explains dr. Nugroho Nitiyoso, the Medical Senior Manager of Kalbe.
The other sight issue, cataracts, are often happening in seniors. A cataract causes one’s vision to be blurry as if it is smokey or foggy. One of the causes of cataract is diabetes. There is also a condition that is called strabismus. This happens when both eyes, that are supposed to stare directly to the front, experience issues with one of the eyes falling to the side or to the center.
A common refractional issue would be a myopia that is combined with the overuse of gadget – this results in a digital eye strain. The eyes would be aching, painful, watery, dry, and red – one can also experience a headache. Parents can spot myopi in their children by taking notice of their habits. “Children with myopia would move their head forward or squint their eyes to see something far. They would also play with their gadgets or watch the TV from a close range.”
Aside from the aforementioned factors, causes of vision impairment can come from free radicals such as pollution, being a smoker and the smoke of the cigarette itself, diabetes, and sun ray. One of the ways to combat free radicals besides eating green vegetables like spinach and water spinach would be to consume special antioxidants for the eyes, lutein and zeaxanthin. “Reduce the use of gadgets and spare some time at least two hours a day to play outside – take a look at things that are far like the trees and the sky to reduce the risks of having myopia,” dr. Nugroho suggests.
As a company that realizes the importance of maintaining eye health, Kalbe provides the answer to help with this need by producing navitae, or an eye drop that lubricates and moisturizes dry or tired eyes due to contact lens, and Nutrieye, which is a vitamin that contains lutein and zeaxanthin that help improve eyesight.
More over, Janet Omega, the Brand Executive of Nutrieye Kalbe, explains, “As artifical tears, navitae can be used 5-6 times per day, with each eye having two drops of it. It can also be used without the need of taking off contact lenses. As for Nutrieye, it is an eye vitamin that can be consumed every day and is safe for long-term use. The billberry extract in Nutrieye helps relieve tired eyes and relax their muscles, while lutein and zeaxanthin help keep our eyes healthy.”
Janet explains that Navitae can be used by bikers who are exposed to dusts or those with a scratched eye, those who regularly use computers or gadgets. “Navitae’s artificial tears can refresh our eyes,” she says. As for Nutrieye, it can help with blurry vision that is caused by tired eyes. “When our eyes contract too much due to the use of gadgets or looking at things from a near distance, their muscles will tire out. Nutrieye’s billberry extract helps relax these muscles, while lutein and zeaxanthin maintain the health of our eyes,” Janet explains.
Aside from consuming supplements that are rich in antioxidants and eye vitamins, people also need to regularly have their eyes checked, starting from when they are born to inbetween the age of 6-12 months – at the same time, their reflexes would also need to be checked by physicians. “If children are healthy, check-ups would still need to be done once every two years. However, if they are found having vision impairment such as farsightedness or blurry vision, they need to be checked by an ophthalmologist,” dr. Nugroho elaborates.
Kalbe at a Glance
PT Kalbe Farma Tbk (Kalbe) was established in 1966 and is one of the biggest public pharmaceutical companies in Southeast Asia. Kalbe has four main divisions that handle a portfolio of dependable and various brands: the prescription pharmaceutical division, the health products division that handles over-the-counter drugs, multivitamins, and ready-to-serve supplemental drinks, the nutritions division, and the distribution & logistics division.
Kalbe has also developed B2B-based digital services ecosystems for the society: EMOS and MOSTRANS. EMOS is an order management application system that helps distribution channels perform their stock or supply chain management actions. MOSTRANS is a B2B transportation solution provider for an easy management and efficiency of transportation.
Kalbe now has more than 49 subsidiaries and 14 international-standard production facilities, supported by around 16,000 employees in 71 branches throughout Indonesia. Kalbe’s shares have been listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange/Bursa Efek Indonesia (IDX:KLBF) since 1991. For more information please visit https://www.kalbe.co.id/