MASSIVE CATARACT RELIEF IN EYE CAMPS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 9  (4) , 503-508
Abstract
The concept of eye camp represented a revolutionary approach to the massive problem of cataract-related blindness and visual disability. The eye camp involved comprehensive cooperative relief efforts on a large scale to combat the widespread incidence of cataract as it affects residents of rural areas, especially in developing nations. An eye camp was held in Johilpatti, India, in the rural province of Tamil Nadu. On this site, 216 cataract operations were performed in 1 morning by 8 doctors and 16 nurses. In this province alone, an estimated 700,000 persons have cataract requiring operation. Presently existing facilities are equipped to handle a maximum of only 20,000 cases annually. But from June 1972 to June 1973, approximately 50,000 cataract operations were performed in the eye camps. Evidently, the eye camp idea has great potential to significantly reduce the incidence of untreated cataract in rural areas where there are chronic shortages of treatment facilities and medical personnel.

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