Rural population fighting a losing battle against blindness

On the occasion of World Sight Day, leading ophthalmologists of Bangalore pointed out that it is time more attention is paid towards the prevention of blindness, given that visual disability could blight the entire future of an individual.

Though 80 percent of the diseases that cause progressive damage to eye sight are preventable and curable, the condition has assumed serious proportions in the country.

According to doctors, the blindness rate across the world is about 0.3 percent but in India it stands at 1.1 percent.

Need for awareness campaigns
According to experts, blindness occurs primarily due to ignorance.

Common eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy, all treatable ailments, are the major causes of vision loss.

However, the high rate of blindness due to these problems is because of lethargic attitude and the lack of awareness about an effective cure.

The best solution to tackle blindness is to create public awareness of risk factors for the condition, early detection, access to eye health and vision care
services and improved systems for the delivery of eye care across the nation.

Dr Balakrishna Shetty, chairman of Devi Eye Hospital stated, “We need to spread awareness through educative films and the media. People should also talk about it with their families. Many more eye screening camps should be held.”

Rural population fighting a losing battle against blindness
Blindness is equally distributed among the urban and rural population.

Though most of the technology which can reduce blindness is available, much of the rural population is engaged in a losing battle against the ravages of blindness.

The ophthalmic health care delivery systems are virtually nonexistent in the villages while trained manpower and financial resources are sorely lacking.

Dr Bhujang Shetty, managing director, Narayana Netralaya asked, “Restoration of sight and blindness prevention strategies are among the most cost-effective interventions in healthcare. But how much have we succeeded in taking it to the people?

He added, “The facility to perform an eye surgery is not available in rural areas. We are witnessing new technological developments in the area. It is high time we reach both the urban and rural population equally.”