Nethra Raksha Abhiyan : EYE Related Programs
School children vision screening:
Good Vision is Key factor for Learning Abilities.
India has 407 million School aged childrenless than 16 years (40% of total population). 320000 are estimated to be blind (one fifth of world blind children). It is 11.2 million blind person years of burden on our Country. Vision defects affect the child development, education, future work opportunities, and quality of life. Affects the psychological & mental development of child.Leads to serious economic & social burden on families & society at large.
The common eye problems in children
I. Refractive Error
Most common Cause of vision defects is refractive error. 12-18 % of urban children and 6-9% of rural children are affected. Most neglected cause of visual disability
II. Squint
If not corrected may lead to permanent subnormal vision.
III. Cataract
Though less common but a serious problem. Needs immediate surgery & close follow up to ensure proper nerve development to achieve a good lifelong vision.
Objectives
Screening for all eye problems
Sensitize children, & parents to seek medical help
Teachers as vision guardians
Follow up for continuous monitoring
Involving School management for better compliance
Working Plan
A. Vision Screening of Children aged 5-15years
Treatment at Ideal conditions of Eye Hospital
Follow up for Compliance & further Treatment
B. Teachers as Vision Guardians
Training teachers about children health problems
Providing materials for vision screening
To initiate interactions between teachers and parents to participate in the program.
C. Children Involvement
Educate Children about Common Eye Problems
Visual Hygiene training
Awareness about Cracker & Other eye injuries
Guide Children to be socially proactive
Educate children about eye problems in parents & motivate them to seek medical health
Eye donation awareness program
Tasks Ahead - Doddaballapur Taluk Statistics ( just one Taluk!!!)
Number of Schools: 483
Number of Government Schools: 408
Number of Private Schools: 75
Number of School Children: Approx. 45000
Number of GovernmentSchool Children: 23411
Number of Private School Children: NA
Number of Teachers: 1500
Presbyopia:
A common refractive error after 40 years of age which can be corrected by giving suitable glasses.
Glaucoma
Number 1 cause of irreversible blindness. Most common cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20-74 years of age. It is attributed as a silent theif of vision as it doesnot give any symptoms in majority of people.
Diabetic Retinopathy
It is responsible for 1.8 million of the 37 million cases of blindness throughout the world. It is real concern of the day due to growing population with diabetes.
5 Barriers to Break
Motivating people for regular eye examination despite having good vision
Lack of knowledge about Glaucoma & Diabetes complications among public
Lack of motivation for eye screening of diabetics among health care providers
Cost of life long monitoring & treatment
Non-availability of advance treatment options within reach
Cataract
Cataract still No 1 Cause of Blindness. Despite widespread free camps.Annual incidence of cataract induced blindness 2-3 million. Cataract shares 60-70% of total blindness
Age Related Macular Degeneration
With the increased life expectancy, the old aged population is on rise. This condition affects the central vision affecting the quality of life.
India has 3- 4 million who are Corneal Blind. 90 % of Blind people arebelow 45 years. 60% of blind people are children below 12 years. Only 1.5 lakh corneas are donated per year.
ACT has established
Dr.Rajkumar eye collection centre in Dodballapur, Bangalore Rural district.
Dr.Rajkumar eye donation centre in Yelahanka new town, Bangalore.