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Childhood blindness in India: a population based perspective.
1Centre for Social Services, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, India. rakhi@asci.org.in
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|February 25, 2003
Summary
Childhood blindness affects 0.17% of children in Andhra Pradesh, India. Leading causes include refractive errors and preventable conditions like vitamin A deficiency, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Childhood blindness presents a significant public health challenge globally.
- Understanding the specific causes and prevalence is crucial for effective intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of blindness in children under 15 years of age.
- To identify the primary causes of childhood blindness in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Main Methods:
- Population-based studies involving 6,935 children aged 15 or younger.
- Definition of blindness: presenting distance visual acuity less than 6/60 in the better eye.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of childhood blindness was found to be 0.17%.
- Treatable refractive error was the leading cause (33.3%).
- Preventable causes (vitamin A deficiency, post-cataract surgery amblyopia) and congenital anomalies/retinal degeneration each accounted for 16.7%.
Conclusions:
- Key areas for intervention to reduce childhood blindness in India include refractive errors, cataract-related amblyopia, and corneal diseases.
- These findings align with the goals of Vision 2020 for preventing avoidable blindness.