Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Blindness in the tropics

A S Narita1, H R Taylor

  • 1University of Melbourne, Department of Ophthalmology, East Melbourne, VIC.

The Medical Journal of Australia
|September 20, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Preventable blindness is a significant issue in developing nations, with major causes like cataract and xerophthalmia being treatable. Effective delivery of interventions such as surgery and vitamin A supplementation is key to reducing vision impairment.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Prevalence and associations of presenting near-vision impairment in the Australian National Eye Health Survey.

Eye (London, England)·2018
Same author

Prevalence and causes of vision loss in Southeast Asia and Oceania: 1990-2010.

The British journal of ophthalmology·2014
Same author

The roadmap to close the gap for vision--diabetes-related eye care in the Indigenous Australian population.

Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association·2013
Same author

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes in developing and developed countries.

Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association·2013
Same author

An emergent science on the brink of irrelevance: a review of the past 8 years of DNA barcoding.

Molecular ecology resources·2012
Same author

Microbiological and clinical profiles of patients with microbial keratitis residing in nursing homes.

The British journal of ophthalmology·2009

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Blindness disproportionately affects developing countries, occurring at ten times the rate of developed nations.
  • Over 80% of blindness cases are preventable or curable, highlighting a significant public health challenge.
  • Key causes include cataract, trachoma, onchocerciasis, and xerophthalmia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the main causes of preventable and curable blindness in developing countries.
  • To outline effective interventions for major blinding conditions.
  • To identify the primary challenge in addressing global blindness.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established causes of blindness in developing regions.
  • Description of current medical and public health interventions.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Identification of implementation challenges for widespread treatment.

    • Main Results:

    • Cataract, responsible for 50% of blindness, is curable via surgery.
    • Trachoma is preventable through improved hygiene.
    • Onchocerciasis is managed with annual ivermectin doses, provided free of charge.
    • Xerophthalmia (Vitamin A deficiency) is preventable via supplementation and education.

    Conclusions:

    • Effective interventions exist for the majority of preventable and curable blindness.
    • The primary challenge lies in the effective delivery of these interventions to populations in need.
    • Addressing blindness requires a multifaceted approach combining medical treatment and public health strategies.