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Childhood blindness in India: a population based perspective

¹ Centre for Social Services, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, India and International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad
² Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Rakhi Dandona, Centre for Social Services, Administrative Staff College of India, Bella Vista, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad - 500 082, India;
rakhi{at}asci.org.in

ABSTRACT
Aim: To estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness in children in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Methods: These data were obtained as part of two population based studies in which 6935 children 15 years of age participated. Blindness was defined as presenting distance visual acuity <6/60 in the better eye.

Results: The prevalence of childhood blindness was 0.17% (95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.30). Treatable refractive error caused 33.3% of the blindness, followed by 16.6% due to preventable causes (8.3% each due to vitamin A deficiency and amblyopia after cataract surgery). The major causes of the remaining blindness included congenital eye anomalies (16.7%) and retinal degeneration (16.7%).

Conclusion: In the context of Vision 2020, the priorities for action to reduce childhood blindness in India are refractive error, cataract related amblyopia, and corneal diseases.

Keywords: childhood blindness; India; refractive error

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