Introduction
In order to lower the prevalence of blindness from 1.4 % to 0.3 %, the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) was established in 1976 as a 100 % centrally sponsored program. According to a survey conducted in 2001 to 2002, blindness affects 1.1 % of the population.
What Are the Prevalence Rates of Blindness?
The prevalence of blindness decreased from 1.1 % (2001-02) to 1% according to the NPCBVI's 2006–07. Rapid study on avoidable blindness (2006-07). The goal of the NPCBVI's Five Year Plans is to reduce the prevalence of blindness to 0.3 % by the year 2020 through a variety of programs and initiatives.
What Are the Main Causes of Blindness?
A few main causes of blindness are:
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Cataract (clouding of the natural lens of the eye).
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Glaucoma (increase pressure within the eyes resulting in damage to the nerve (optic nerve) of the eye).
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Capsular opacification (clouding of the capsule around the lens which occurs mostly due to complications of cataract surgery).
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Corneal blindness.
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Surgical complications after eye surgery.
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Refractive errors of the eye.
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Posterior segment disorders (disease affecting the retina, choroid, and optic nerve).
What Are the Goals and Objectives of the National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment?
Below are the following goals and objectives of NPCVI (National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment):
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To identify and treat blind people at elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels based on an evaluation of the overall burden of visual impairment in the nation in order to minimize the backlog of blindness.
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By the provision of comprehensive services, develop and reinforce NPCBVI's strategy for "Eye Health '' and the prevention of visual impairment.
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RIOs should be strengthened and improved in order to become centers of excellence in various ophthalmology subspecialties.
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Strengthening the current workforce and creating new infrastructural facilities to deliver high-quality comprehensive.
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To emphasize the need for prevention and raise community knowledge of eye care.
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Enhance and broaden studies on blindness and visual impairment prevention.
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To ensure private practitioners and non-profit organizations participate in eye care.
What Are the Types of Blindness?
The different types of blindness are:
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Economic blindness.
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Social blindness.
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Visible blindness.
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Total blindness.
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Blindness with a cure.
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Easily avoidable blindness.
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Avoidable blindness.
What Is the Global Burden of the Visually Impaired?
285 million individuals are thought to be visually impaired worldwide, according to WHO statistics from 2010.
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246 million people have limited vision, and 39 million are blind.
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In low-income environments, about 90 % of the world's visually impaired people reside.
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Those over 50 make up 82 % of those who are blind.
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Worldwide, moderate and severe vision impairment is primarily caused by uncorrected refractive problems.
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In nations with middle- and low-income levels, cataracts continue to be the predominant cause of blindness.
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About 80 percent of visual impairment can be avoided or treated.
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The African continent has the highest prevalence (an average of 1.2 %), followed by Asia (0.75 %), and Latin America (0.5 %).
What Are the Strategies of the National Program for Control of Blindness?
The following are the strategies for National Program for Control Blindness:
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The ongoing promotion of free cataract surgeries.
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The importance of childhood blindness, vitreoretinal surgery, glaucoma, corneal transplantation, and diabetic retinopathy.
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Active population screening for those over 50 years of age.
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Assessing students in schools to detect and cure refractory mistakes.
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Public-private partnerships that provide eye care in underprivileged areas.
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Developing the skills of health professionals.
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IEC Community Activities.
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Strengthening of District Hospitals, Medical Colleges of States, and Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology (RIOs).
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The ongoing importance of primary eye care.
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District mobile ophthalmic units with several uses for increased coverage.
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Community and Panchayat Raj Institutions' involvement in the planning of services in rural regions.
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Public-private partnership participation.
What Are the Activities of NPCB?
The following are the activities of NPCB:
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Cataract surgeries.
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Participation of NGOs.
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Civil works.
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Commodity assistance.
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IEC activities.
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Management information system.
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Monitoring and evaluation.
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School eye screening program.
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Collection and use of donated eyes.
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Prevention of vitamin A deficiency.
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School eye screening program.
New Initiatives of the Program:
The following are the new initiatives of the program:
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Giving patients with presbyopia-free glasses.
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Providing school children with eyewear by holding an annual Eye Testing Fortnight in the month of June.
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To encourage eye donation and to motivate eye banks to improve their operations in the next few years.
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It is imperative to implement the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme's requirement that requests for eye donation from the deceased be included in hospital-issued cause-of-death certificates (NPCB quarterly newsletter July to September 2012).
What Are the Future Initiatives for the Blindness Control Program?
Plannings are undergoing by the government for future aspects of blindness control programs such as:
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Initiatives for setting up vision centers in different areas of the country to improve the access to eye care facilities for the people.
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Inventions are ongoing for the development of new modern eye equipment and the inclusion of existing eye equipment at all eye care centers and hospitals to meet the necessary requirement.
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Digitalization using different groups and digital applications for easy access to eye care services.
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Setting up various mobile ophthalmic units in different districts for better coverage of the population for providing eye care services.
Conclusion
A major public health issue is blindness. It can affect any age group. The National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment was founded in 1976 with the primary objective of reducing the prevalence of blindness from 1.4 % to 0.3 % by the year 2020. Goal-achieving actions taken through cataract operations, non-governmental organizations, school screenings, eye camps, IEC for eye donation, and Mobile ophthalmic units for better coverage of eye care services across the general population.
