British Journal of Ophthalmology Editorials

Global health for future ophthalmologists--time to address the gaps: a UK perspective

Malik, A. N. J., Das, A., Hall, J., Crisp, N. — 2012-05-15T13:21:37-07:00

What is Global Health?

Globalisation has created a myriad of unprecedented challenges and opportunities for healthcare systems. For decades, the health systems of wealthier nations have benefited from the migration of healthcare workers from resource-poor areas of the world. This ‘brain drain’ has had significant effects on the healthcare systems of the countries that these workers have left behind. We have also witnessed the rapid spread of infectious diseases across continents in unexpected ways, most notably with the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. We now see the rise of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors that have spread from wealthier to poorer countries, with a rapid increase in low- and middle-income countries. This led to the United Nations convening a summit on non-communicable diseases in September 2011, providing a unique opportunity to address these global issues at the highest international level.1

Evidently, nations can...

The changing spectrum of microbial keratitis: is microsporia increasing as a cause of microbial keratitis or is it a previously unrecognised cause?

Schwab, I. R. — 2012-05-15T13:21:37-07:00

Microbial keratitis is an old disease and is not limited to humans, but we have a unique ability to change its prevalence and epidemiology, unlike other animals.

Ten to eight thousand years ago, we were a hunter-gatherer species with an average life span of 20–30 years.1 Trauma was likely to be the principal cause of keratitis, with soil-based bacterial and fungal agents the main pathogens. Societies were mostly tribal and contact with other tribal groups was infrequent and often violent.

Eight to four thousand years ago as we began congregating in villages and becoming more agrarian, lifespan increased slightly, and community organisation improved. The domestication of animals contributed to these improvements. Animals would be valuable, and value would mean close contact. Domesticated animals would be so important and valuable, in fact, some would be kept in the home or at least in holding pens very close to the...