HYDERABAD: In spite of various campaigns and awareness initiatives taken by the health administration, the number of people suffering from blindness is rising in Hyderabad and more than 6,000 people are waiting for corneal transplantation in the district.

Every year more than 2,000 new cases of blindness are registered in Hyderabad district. Most of these cases can be treated with corneal transplantation.

Besides the new cases, about 6,000 people are already suffering from the problem and waiting for corneal transplantation. Though about 2,000 corneal donations are made in Hyderabad every year, receivers outnumber donors. As a result, the number of visually impaired people due to corneal problems  is rising, says Dr S Ravinder Goud, District Blindness Control Society officer.

Though people of all ages are affected by the syndrome, a sizeable number of them are children and those aged below 35 years who can be productive with a good eyesight.

While the elderly contract blindness due to age-related degeneration of the eye, children and youngsters contract the problem due to genetic reasons, infections and accidents among other causes. The  disheartening fact is that even today many children are falling prey to blindness caused by deficiency of Vitamin-A, though the number of such cases might have come down over a period of time.

Children suffer blindness mainly due to birth-related defects, lack of proper nutrition and infections. Care has to be taken right from the stage of the mother’s pregnancy to prevent blindness in children to some extent. And, a lot of awareness has to be created as many lower-income group people are still devoid of proper nutrition and health care, opined Dr Ravinder Goud who is also professor of Ophthalmology at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital in the city.

More than 500 blind patients have registered with Sarojini Devi Eye Hosptial  for corneal transplantation and unless eye donations increase, eyesight for these hapless people may remain a distant dream.
 

Fortnight Long Campaign for Eye Donation

District collector Rahul Bojja launched National Fortnight of Eye Donation to create awareness on the importance of eye donation on Tuesday. A series of activities like eye donation pledges, screening camps and rallies among others will be held during the fortnight. Bojja, who released  posters on ‘eye donation’, pledged to donate his eyes.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Despite-Campaigns-Cases-of-Blindness-Rising-in-City/2015/08/26/article2993908.ece