Climate change & eye health: towards sustainable eye health development

Globally, climate change is leaving a devastating impact on our environment and the health of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), climate change negatively impacts people’s eye health by creating conditions that can lead to infections, allergies, and eye diseases.

Climate change can increase the rate of trachoma infections through decreased access to clean water and sanitation. Increasing ultraviolet radiation caused by atmospheric pollution can lead to early onset of diseases like cataract. Air pollution has also been linked to increases in allergic eye diseases, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.

The eye health sector is also a massive consumer of resources and emitter of greenhouse gases through the delivery, production and transport of products, services and technologies from a carbon-intensive supply chain. According to a report conducted by ARUP, the health care sector is responsible for an estimated 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions from 514 coal power plants.

As the leading eye health and international development organization, The Fred Hollows Foundation is promoting leadership and coordinated action to address the growing impacts of climate change on eye health and improve environmental sustainability in the eye health sector.

The Foundation incorporates environmental sustainability into our operations, sustainable procurement, facilities management, service delivery, education, advocacy, research and collaboration.

The Foundation has partnered with the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Nepal to build an energy efficient community eye hospital. The Nijgadh Community Eye Hospital incorporates environmentally sustainable practices including the use of renewable energy, water saving technology, waste management strategies, correct handling of medical waste, recycling and planting of trees.

The Foundation views Nijgadh a showcase hospital for the future of the eye health sector and a lower-emission health care service delivery model.

The Fred Hollows Foundation is a global leader in eye health and international development working towards the elimination of avoidable blindness. Founded in 1992 by the late Professor Fred Hollows in Australia, The Foundation now works in more than 25 countries in Australasia, Africa, East Asia, South Asia & Middle East. The Foundation trains local doctors and health workers, builds and upgrades facilities, and provides equipment in order to achieve long-term sustainable eye health care.

Find out more: www.hollows.org/hk