Resources

This report provides crucial guidance on how best to tackle what is fast becoming a leading cause of blindness in the Commonwealth and around the world.

Diabetes, which has now reached epidemic levels, brings with it the devastating threat of vision loss and irreversible blindness. Of the estimated 385 million people diagnosed with diabetes globally, over 65
million are in India. This landmark research report details the provisions currently available in India to screen and treat people for diabetic retinopathy, and highlights where improvements are still very much
needed.

Research was conducted across 11 major cities in India, in over 80 eye hospitals or departments, 73 diabetic clinics, and interviews conducted with 650 people with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.

The research gathered from this study has been used to inform The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust’s (the Trust) five-year Initiative to tackle blindness caused by diabetes in India. The report’s alarming
finding that almost half of all people with diabetes had already lost vision by the time retinopathy was diagnosed shows that intervention is needed, and quickly.

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The global emergence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represents an opportunity for blindness prevention efforts. Some of the most serious blinding conditions fall within the scope of NCDs and have a similar or greater impact than conditions that have so far achieved greater prominence in discussions around NCDs.

The impact of blinding NCDs should be highlighted in discussions with governments and other donors; while opportunities for integration of eye health within activities to address diabetes, nutritional deficiencies and other conditions should also be maximised.

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Nepal is one of the first countries where a nation-wide population-based survey on blindness and visual impairment was done in 1980-81. Results from this survey helped to mobilise support and to build an elaborate eye care infrastructure in the country.

To reassess the situation, between 2006 and 2010 surveys were repeated in all 14 zones of Nepal. This report enables the comparison of the present situation with the findings of the 1981 Nepal Blindness Survey and evaluation of the impact of the eye care system for future planning of eye care services in Nepal.

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People with disabilities constitute the world’s largest minority group. As such, this ‘guide’ is a very important resource for all people working in eye health. It addresses the specific steps needed to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to eye health programs, and also the need to ensure that those with permanent vision loss access wider opportunities.

This guide seeks to address two important questions facing all eye care personnel, namely:

• How to make eye care services accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.
• How to assist people with permanent vision loss whose sight cannot be restored.

^{Courtesy of CBM.}

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