Omen writes

Given that this column only appears once a month it is difficult to reply immediately to those who may disagree with my comments. However, this is one occasion when I will respond to the challenges to my piece about the global problem of visual impairment.

Both Jeremy Jalie, deputy director of Vision Aid Overseas, and Frank Norville have taken exception to comments I made about the appropriateness of used spectacles and the need for international co-ordination in solving the problems of the 300 million blind and visually disabled plus the up to 300 million presbyopes without spectacles. Both gentlemen are being far too sensitive.