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Status of pediatric eye care in India

Gvs Murthy1, N John, S K Gupta

  • 1Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. gvsmurthy2000@yahoo.com

Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
|November 1, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric eye care services in India are insufficient, with only 28.7% of responding institutions offering them. Advanced eye care centers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide better pediatric ophthalmology services compared to other facilities.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Effective pediatric eye care is crucial for preventing vision impairment in children.
  • India faces a significant burden of childhood visual disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the current availability and status of pediatric eye care services across India.
  • To identify disparities in pediatric eye care provision among different types of healthcare institutions.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide survey of eye care institutions was conducted using questionnaires.
  • Data collection involved workshops, regional meetings, and observational visits for validation.
  • Response rate from 1204 contacted institutions was 55.5%.

Main Results:

  • Only 192 (28.7%) institutions reported providing pediatric eye care.
  • Non-governmental organization (NGO) hospitals and advanced eye care centers showed better pediatric service provision.
  • Refractive errors were the most common reason for consultation, followed by pediatric cataract and squint surgeries.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric eye care services in India are currently inadequate to meet the population's needs.
  • There is a need to strengthen pediatric ophthalmology services, particularly in secondary and tertiary care settings.
Abstract

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