New survey unveils worrying findings about the eye health of Hungarians

Globally, 2.2 billion people experience near or distance vision impairments, highlighting the importance of regular eye check-ups and proper eye care. According to a recent survey, Hungary falls behind many other countries when it comes to eye health.

With this in mind, health experts at Compare the Market AU analysed global data to rank the most and least visually impaired countries, based on MSVI rates, blindness prevalence, and search volumes for “glasses” and “contact lenses.”

The countries with the worst eye health:

Rank	Country	MSVI (%)	Blindness (%)	Glasses Search Volume (per 100,000)	Contact Lenses Search Volume (per 100,000)	Total Score (Max 10)
1	Nepal	6.97	1.20	207	35	5.1
2	Germany	1.02	0.10	7,452	1,555	5.0
3	Türkiye	6.37	1.00	321	14	4.4
4	Philippines	4.71	0.89	1,432	284	4.3
5	Japan	1.09	0.11	4,854	1,617	4.2
6	Singapore	1.71	0.18	2,666	1,557	3.8
7	United Kingdom	1.27	0.09	2,992	1,656	3.7
8	India	4.63	0.93	193	56	3.6
9=	Morocco	4.34	0.94	71	3	3.3
9=	Brazil	3.97	0.96	142	3	3.3
10	Hungary	1.39	0.24	1,113	1,517	3.2

Here are some key findings:

• Nepal ranks as the country with the highest rate of visual impairments, recording 6.97% MSVI and 1.20% blindness. Cataracts are the most common issue, and over 80% of blindness cases are preventable with access to quality eye care.
• Germany ranks second, with relatively low blindness rates but the highest global search volumes for “glasses” (7,452 per 100,000 people) and the fourth highest for “contact lenses” (1,555 per 100,000).
• Türkiye takes third place, with the second-highest MSVI rate (6.37%) and second second-highest blindness rate (1.00%). Retinal dystrophies and cataracts are the leading causes of impairment. Despite lower search volumes for eyewear compared to Germany, Türkiye ranks higher due to its elevated MSVI levels.

The health insurance experts at Compare the Market AU shared some top tips for maintaining good eye health:

1. Have regular optician appointments. You should have an eye test every two years as a minimum, even if you don’t think there are any changes to your vision, as they can help to pick up potential conditions at the early stages. If you notice any changes to your vision, then don’t wait until your routine appointment – get in touch with your optician, so you can get to the root of the cause.

2. Wear your glasses if you need to. If you’ve been prescribed glasses, then make sure you wear them – whether you need them for computer work or driving – otherwise, you could cause further sight issues. You should also always wear sunglasses when out in the sun, as UVA and UVB rays can cause cataracts.

3. Take regular screen breaks. If you spend your day working on a laptop, or you’re on your phone a lot, then make sure you give your eyes regular breaks, otherwise you could strain them. The 20-20-20 rule can help with this: after 20 minutes of staring at a screen, for 20 seconds, look at something 20 feet (6.1 metres) away.

4. Eat a healthy diet. A diet that’s low in saturated fats will help to reduce your risk of developing things like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity – all of which can lead to various eye diseases. You should also stop smoking, as that’s linked to age-related macular degeneration, which is another cause of sight loss.

5. Wear protective equipment. Many DIY jobs – and even racquet sports – can cause eye-related injuries, so make sure you’re wearing the right eye protection when needed, whether you’re sawing or sanding, or playing tennis or squash.

Click for the full study with more information.

Read also:

• WOW! A unique Hungarian vision restoration therapy (vrt) can give back the eyesight for many!
• Great Hungarian Inventions – The Soft Contact Lens

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