Cataract related blindness in India & its social
implications.
(25.09.2013)
Angra SK, Murthy GV, Gupta SK, Angra V.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9361464)
(www.karmayog.org)
Source
Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for
Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Abstract
The prevalence of blindness in India
is 14.9 per 1000. Eighty per cent of this blindness is due to cataract alone.
Most of the cataract blinds in the country are in the rural areas while the
surgical service delivery network is concentrated in the urban areas. Thus a
large proportion of patients in the rural areas continue to remain blind. This
situation has many social implications. There is loss of productivity,
breakdown of interpersonal relationships, depressive manifestations, loss of
self esteem and most patients lead an isolated humiliating life. Patients lack
information on the available services and continue to remain blind for years
even after being diagnosed as operable. This is unfortunate because cataract
surgery is one of the most cost effective health interventions known and most
operated patients, irrespective of the surgical technique, are immensely
satisfied with the level of visual rehabilitation after surgery.
PMID:
9361464
[PubMed – indexed