·
WHO definition of
blindness. In order to have comparable national and international
statistics, the WHO in 1972 proposed a uniform criterion and defined blindness
as, “Visual acuity of less than 3/60 (Snellen) or
its equivalent”. In order to facilitate the screening of visual acuity by
non-specialised persons, in the absence of
appropriate vision charts, the WHO in 1979 added the “Inability to count
fingers in day-light at a distance of 3 metres”
to indicate vision less than 3/60 or its equivalent. Visual filed less than
10º, irrespective of the level of visual acuity in also labelled
as blindness (WHO, 19774).
·
Other definitions of blindness in
vogue are:
_ Economic blindness: vision
in better eye <6/60 to 3/60
_ Social blindness: Vision
in better eye <3/60 to 1/60
_ Legal blindness: Vision in
better eye <1/60 to perception light
_ Total blindness: No light perception (PL -ve).
·
Vision 2020: The Right to Sight’,10 is a global
initiative launched by WHO in Geneva on Feb. 18,1999 in a broad coalition with
a ‘Task Force of International Non-Governmental Organisations
(NGOs)’ to combat the gigantic problem of blindness in the world. Partners of
Vision 2020: Right to Sight include:
I. World Health Organisation
(WHO),
II. Task Force of International
NGOs, which has following members:
_ International Agency for
Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)
_ Christopher Blindness Mission
(CBM)
_ Helen Keller International
_ ORBIS International
_ Sight Savers International
_ Al Noor
Foundation
_ International Federation of
Ophthalmological Societies
_ Lions Clubs International
Foundation
_ Operation Eye Sight Universal
_ The Carter Centre
·
W.H.O. has organized an Alliance for Global
Elimination of Trachoma by the year 2020 (GET
2020).
·
Vision for the
future (VFTF): International Ophthalmology Strategic Plan
to Preserve and Restore Vision11, launched in Feb 2001, is another global
initiative (in addition to Vision 2020) for prevention of blindness.
Implementation of this program is being done by International Council of
Ophthalmology (ICO) by working closely with other international, supranational
and national organizations. It is parallel to and complementary of ‘Vision
2020’. Care is being taken to avoid duplication.
Top priorties
for action of this programme are:
- Enhancement of ophthalmology residency training around the world, particularly through definition of principles, guidelines and curricula.
- Development of model guidelines and recommendations for ophthalmic clinical care in critical disease areas.
- Dissemination of sample curricula for training of medical students and allied health personnel.
- Advocacy and support for ‘Vision 2020: Right to Sight’, particularly by encouraging national ophthalmologic societies to support the initiative and become involved.
- Helping national ophthalmologic societies develop more effective organizations.
·
Target diseases identified for intervention
under ‘Vision 2020’ initiative in India include:
_ Cataract,
_ Childhood blindness,
_ Refractive errors and low vision,
_ Corneal
blindness,
_ Diabetic retinopathy,
_ Glaucoma, and
_ Trachoma (focal)
·
Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOP). The
term MLOP has been introduced to include all categories of paramedics who work
full time in eye care. Broadly two streams of such personnels
are envisaged:
- Hospital-based MLOP. These include ophthalmic nurses, ophthalmic technicians, optometrists, and orthoptists etc.
- Community-based MLOP include those with outreach/field functions such as primary eye care workers and ophthalmic assistants.
·
Presently two types of eye camps are held:
Comprehensive eye care camps with ‘Reach-out Approach’,
and
Screening eye camps (Reach-in-Approach with comprehensive
eye care). As mentioned earlier the recent emphasis is on the
‘Reach-in-Approach’.
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