Corneal blindness leading cause of concern for eye health in India, say experts

Corneal blindness is on the rise in India with the country seeing an estimated 20000 to 25000 new cases every year claimed Dr Smit Bavaria Cataract Surgeon Dr Agarwalrsquos Eye Hospital Mumbai on ThursdayOctober is observed as Blindness Awareness Month every year to highlight the issues faced by blind and visually challenged people and raise awareness about preventable factors leading to the conditionAddressing a press conference on this important issue Dr Bavaria stated ldquoThe causes of corneal blindness have shifted in recent years from infectious diseases like keratitis to eye trauma and other eye complications but the burden remains substantial especially in rural areas where access to eye care is limitedrdquoWhat is corneal blindnessCorneal blindness refers to the damage or scarring of the cornea due to infectious diseases or other disorders that can lead to partial or complete visual impairmentTalking about the condition Dr Preethi Naveen Senior Cornea and Refractive Surgeon and Medical Director Dr Agarwalrsquos Eye Bank Chennai said ldquoCorneal blindness is a significant cause of vision loss in India affecting approximately 12 lakh people Indias high prevalence of corneal blindness is primarily due to infections like trachoma and keratitis eye injuries in industrial and agricultural settings and widespread vitamin A deficiency Poor hygiene delayed medical interventions and limited access to healthcare particularly in rural areas further aggravate the problemrdquoShe further stressed that children and workingage adults in rural areas are particularly susceptible due to malnutrition frequent eye injuries and limited healthcare access Elderly individuals are also at risk due to degenerative eye conditions Overall an estimated 1ndash2 per cent of Indiarsquos total population is at risk of developing corneal blindnessHow to diagnose and treat corneal blindnessAddressing this question Dr Naveen said ldquoCurrent diagnostic methods for corneal blindness in India include a comprehensive eye examination visual acuity testing and slitlamp biomicroscopy which allow ophthalmologists to assess corneal clarity and identify conditions like keratitis ulcers or scarring Advanced imaging techniques such as anterior segment optical coherence tomography ASOCT and corneal topography provide detailed assessments of corneal thickness and surface irregularities aiding in accurate diagnosis Corneal transplantation or therapeutic interventions are also highly successful in individuals without significant underlying health conditions such as diabetes or severe immune disorders which may complicate recoveryrdquoChallenges in diagnosing and treating corneal blindnessChallenges in accessibility and healthcare disparities persist highlighting the need for continued and targeted interventionsDr Sanjana Vatsa Cornea and Refractive Eye Surgeon Bengaluru Dr Agarwalrsquos Eye Hospital said ldquoMany patients in rural areas lack access to quality eye care services which often results in irreversible corneal damage before they seek help Additionally there is a substantial gap in training and resources for healthcare providers limiting their ability to effectively manage and treat corneal conditions Shortage of corneal donors is also one of the major barriers as there are few organised corneal transplant programs in place Despite efforts to promote eye donation and corneal transplantation the demand for corneas significantly outpaces supply with only 25000 to 30000 corneal donations annually against a need for 200000 transplants Socioeconomic factors such as poverty and malnutrition exacerbate the risk of corneal blindness making it difficult to implement comprehensive prevention and treatment strategiesrdquoThe way forwardDr Vatsa suggested the following measures to reduce incidences of corneal blindness in IndiaAt an individual level there is a need to increase awareness about eye health encouraging routine eye examinations to identify and treat issues at an early stageLaunching initiatives focused on eye health education and the importance of corneal donation can increase public participationImplementing programs to address nutritional deficiencies particularly Vitamin A supplementation in vulnerable populations can reduce cornearelated issuesAlso ReadMore than 85 per cent of blindness cases in India preventable Experts