Related Experiment Videos
Blindness prevention programmes: past, present, and future.
S Resnikoff1, R Pararajasegaram
1Prevention of Blindness and Deafness, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. resnikoffs@who.ch
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|April 5, 2001
Summary
Eighty percent of blindness is avoidable, particularly among the elderly. Global initiatives like VISION 2020 aim to eliminate needless blindness through accessible knowledge and targeted programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Ophthalmology
- Global Health Initiatives
Background:
- Blindness and visual impairment pose significant societal challenges.
- An aging global population increases the prevalence of visually disabling conditions.
- A substantial majority of visual disability is preventable.
Observation:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has a long history of combating needless blindness, starting with trachoma control.
- The WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness, established in 1978, has supported national programs.
- The VISION 2020 initiative, launched in 1999, is a major global collaboration to eliminate avoidable blindness.
Findings:
- Accessible knowledge and skills can alleviate much needless blindness.
- International cooperation is crucial for addressing global visual impairment.
- The VISION 2020 initiative aims for worldwide elimination of avoidable blindness by 2020.
Implications:
- Effective prevention strategies can significantly reduce the burden of visual impairment.
- Targeted interventions are essential for high-risk populations, such as the elderly.
- Global health partnerships are vital for achieving public health goals in eye care.