CATARACT RELATED BLINDNESS IN INDIA AND ITS SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The prevalence of blindness in India is 14.9 per 1000. Eighty per cent of this blindness is due to cataract alone. Most of the cataract blin ds in the country are in the rural areas while the surgical service de livery network is concentrated in the urban areas. Thus a large propor tion of patients in the rural areas continue to remain blind. This sit uation has many social implications. There is loss of productivity, br eakdown of interpersonal relationships, depressive manifestations, los s of self esteem and most patients lead an isolated humiliating life. Patients lack information on the available services and continue to re main blind for years evert after being diagnosed as operable. This is unfortunate because cataract surgery is one atf file most cost effecti ve health interventions known and most operated patients, irrespective of the surgical technique, are immensely satisfied with the level of visual rehabilitation after surgery.