SPONSOR FEATURE
Follow the money
The Dis-Chem Ride for Sight is sponsored by Dis-Chem Pharmacies and the Dis- Chem Foundation It is organised by volunteers from Retina South Africa , community organisation and ordinary South Africans – all determined to help in the quest to ensure that young South Africans may have a sighted future .
Retinal conditions – especially the genetic forms , are usually diagnosed in children and young adults and most commonly in families with no previous history of vision loss . This is because the genetic mistakes causing the vision loss are usually in the recessive form . Which means that 2 carrier parents , themselves un- affected , may both pass on a defective gene to their child who will then start losing vision at a young age . Researchers estimate that 1 in 5 in the population may be carriers of a single genetic mutation for retinal blindness .
Article on Eye Health – Karen Denton – Head of Advocacy and Education – Retina SA
Did you know that more than 80 % of what we perceive in the world around us comes from our sense of sight . For this reason our sight is of paramount importance important to all of us .
There are some simple but very important steps for you to take to protect your eyes .
Regular eye checks are essential especially if you ’ re over the age of 40 . These eye checks need to be with an ophthalmologist or an optometrist who examines the back of your eye for early signs of developing problems that you may not be aware of for many , many years .
Another important aspect is to take very good care of your general health . Eat a healthy diet and try to include foods from every colour of our South African flag .
And of course we all know that movement is very very important for us and joining the cycle race is one way to ensure good circulation .
If you have any queries please contact us at Retina South Africa … Info @ retinasa . org . za or call us on 0860 595959
So what can be done ?
The good news is that progress is being made and many promising treatments are now in advanced clinical trials . Retina South Africa recently participated in one of these trials and we hope that an effective treatment will flow from this trial very soon .
Retina South Africa , with proceeds from this event , facilitates genetic testing to identify the genes involved to ensure that South Africans have access to this and other gene specific treatments on the horizon . The proceeds from the Dis-Chem Ride for Sight contributed to the acquisition of high-tech testing equipment at the University of Cape Town , that identifies disease causing mutationsa result that every family must have to participate in future trials and treatments .
Retina South Africa has recently embarked on a publicity campaign to alert people of the serious loss of vision that results from uncontrolled Diabetes . One of the most important interventions to stop the advance of Diabetes type 2 is of course – exercise . And here we stop as we are preaching to the converted . - you our avid cyclists- Cycling to restore the gift of Sight .
10 Ride For Sight | 19 February 2023