Utilizing paramedical worker for screening visual status of adults in a village of Delhi

A community based study in a village of Delhi was carried out during February 2004-May 2005 to assess visual outcomes in population more than 40 years age utilizing a paramedical worker. About 24% of them had sup-optimal vision and were referred to a health centre visited by an ophthalmologist. 78% of those referred, attended the centre and got spectacles/cataract operation as advised indicating effectiveness of screening by a paramedical worker followed by referral. Since the specialist referral service was also available within the same village, very high success rate in the current study may not be replicated to the same extent in other settings.