Upcoming specialty in developing countries: challenges and solutions

Session Details

Session Title: Orbis Free Paper Session

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 11:30-12:45

Paper Time: 11:54

Venue: Room 4

First Author: : P.Agrawal INDIA

Co Author(s): :                        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the availability of Pediatric Ophthalmology services in Developing Countries keeping in mind the burden of childhood blindness.

Setting:

Moradabad, small city in Western U.P, Central India.

Methods:

School screening program of 3334 children below 15years of age was done in Moradabad, small city in Western U.P., Central India. Data from Government officials, national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGO) working in field of pediatric eye care in India was compiled. This data was compared with other pediatric eye screening program and other studies.

Results:

428(12.83%) children found to have eye problem. Refractive error was most common vision problem in 405 children (94.62%).Only 246 children were bearing glasses (60.74%). 2nd most vision problem was corneal opacity in 16 children (3.73%) followed by strabismus in 5 children (1.16%) and cataract in 2 children (0.46%). 122 children (28.50%) were deeply amblyopic or blind due to: -Refractive error -103 - Corneal opacity - 14 - Strabismus - 3 - Congenital cataract - 2

Conclusions:

Most of childhood blindness is curable or preventable. Efforts should be made for early detection and management at governmental, institutional & individual level. Educating teachers and parents by taking screening programs is the need to reduce childhood blindness.

Financial Interest:

NONE