09/10/2025
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👁️ Jum Dinji tal-Vista 2025 👁️
Illum, fil-Jum Dinji tal-Vista 2025, qed inħabbru li r-riċerka ewlenija tagħna minn The Malta Eye Study għadha kemm ġiet ippubblikata online. Din hija bbażata fuq il-prevalenza tal-problemi fil-vista fost adulti ta’ bejn il-50 u t-80 sena f’Malta.
📖 Aqraha hawn: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11206721251383740
Riżultati ewlenin:
– Wieħed minn kull erbgħa adulti Maltin ta’ bejn il-50 u t-80 sena għandu/għandha xi forma ta’ nuqqas fil-vista, u wieħed minn kull sittax jgħix b’nuqqas fil-vista li jaffettwa iżjed l-attivitajiet ta’ kuljum.
– Il-kawżi l-aktar komuni huma dawk li ħafna drabi wieħed jista' jilqagħlhom, fosthom il-bżonn tan-nuċċali, il-katarretti u għajn għażżiena (amblyopia). Kawżi oħra jinkludu mard fl-għajn relatat maz-zokkor, deġenerazzjoni tal-makula relatata mal-età, mijopija patoloġika u glawkoma.
Ħajr lil kull parteċipant/a li ta/t il-ħin tiegħu/tagħha għal dan l-istudju, lil kull min għen fil-loġistika ta' dan l-istudju u ħadem biex tinġabar l-informazzjoni, kif ukoll lill-kollegi u l-amministrazzjoni ta’ Mater Dei Hospital u Gozo General Hospital għall-permess li nużaw il-faċilitajiet tagħhom — u lill-isponsors tagħna, RIDT - University of Malta Research Trust, Prohealth Ltd u Class Optical.
👓 F’dan il-Jum Dinji tal-Vista qegħdin inħeġġuk biex tieħu ħsieb għajnejk:
– Iċċekkja għajnejk kull sena jew sentejn (kull sena jekk għandek iz-zokkor jew storja ta’ glawkoma fil-familja).
– Naqqas il-ħin quddiem l-iskrins u ħu pawżi regolari biex tevita għeja jew nixfa fl-għajnejn.
– Ilbes nuċċalijiet tax-xemx ta’ kwalità biex tipproteġi għajnejk kontra d-dawl UV.
– Żomm ruħek f'saħħtek — ikkontrolla l-livelli taz-zokkor fid-demm, ibqa’ attiv/a, u evita t-tipjip u l-konsum ta' drogi jew użu eċċessiv ta’ alkoħol.
– Żomm dieta bilanċjata, mogħnija bi ħxejjex, frott u omega-3s biex issaħħaħ il-vista fit-tul.
– U ma ninsewx it-tfal tagħna — il-vista tat-tfal għandha tiġi ċċekkjata kmieni minn professjonist/a fl-għajnejn, speċjalment jekk jiġu nnutati xi problemi waqt l-iskrining fl-iskola. Dan sabiex jiġu evitati problemi fil-vista matul il-ħajja. Ir-riċerka turi li t-tfal li jqattgħu ftit ħin barra mid-dar ikollhom inqas mijopija (bżonn ta' nuċċali biex jikkoreġi vista fil-bogħod) u l-konsegwenzi tagħha fil-ħajja.
– Fittex attenzjoni medika urġenti mingħand professjonist tal-għajnejn jekk tesperjenza sintomi f’daqqa bħal dwal jixegħlu (flashes), ħjut jew għanqbut li jiċċaqalqu (floaters), dell jew purtiera quddiem il-vista, vista mgħawġa, uġigħ f’daqqa fl-għajn, jew korriment fl-għajn.
It-telf tal-vista mhux inevitabbli maż-żmien — ħafna kawżi nistgħu nilqgħulhom b’kura regolari. Ejja nieħdu ħsieb l-għajnejn Maltin! 💙
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👁️ World Sight Day 2025 👁️
Today, on World Sight Day 2025, we’re proud to announce that our landmark paper from The Malta Eye Study has just been published online, presenting the first population-based data on visual impairment among adults aged 50–80 years in Malta.
📖 Read it here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11206721251383740
Key findings:
– 1 in 4 Maltese adults aged 50–80 have some degree of reduced vision, and 1 in 16 live with visual impairment affecting their daily activities.
– The most common causes were those that can often be prevented or treated, including the need for updated glasses, cataract, and lazy eye (amblyopia). Other causes included diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, pathological myopia, and glaucoma.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants who volunteered their time, all the team members who provided logistical support and assisted in collecting data in this study, as well as to the staff and administration of Mater Dei Hospital and Gozo General Hospital for their invaluable support and for permitting the use of their facilities - and our sponsors, RIDT - University of Malta Research Trust, Prohealth Ltd and Class Optical.
👓 This World Sight Day, take a moment to care for your eyes:
– Have your eyes checked every 1–2 years (yearly if you have diabetes or a family history of glaucoma).
– Limit screen time and take regular breaks to prevent eye strain and dryness.
– Protect your eyes from UV light with quality sunglasses.
– Maintain good metabolic health — control blood sugar, stay active, and avoid smoking, drugs of abuse and excess alcohol.
– Eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and omega-3s.
– And don’t forget our youngest generation — children’s vision should be checked early by an experienced eye care professional, especially if any issues are flagged during school screening, to prevent lifelong vision problems. Research shows that children who spend some time outdoors have less short-sightedness and its lifelong complications.
- Seek urgent attention from an eye care professional if you experience sudden symptoms such as flashes of light, new floaters, a curtain or shadow over your vision, distorted vision, sudden eye pain, or eye injury.
Vision loss is not inevitable with age — most causes can be prevented or treated. Let’s keep Malta’s eyes healthy! 💙
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Purpose To describe the population characteristics, prevalence, and causes of visual impairment in Maltese adults aged 50–80 years. Methods The Malta Eye Study...
