Background: Evidence based planning has been the hallmark of the blindness control programme in India. A nationwide survey was undertaken in 1999-2001 to document the magnitude and causes of blindness. Methods: One district each in 15 populous states was covered. 25 clusters were randomly selected in each district and all individuals aged 50 years and above were enumerated. Presenting and best corrected vision was recorded using retroilluminated logMAR tumbling E charts and detailed eye examination was offered. Results: The response rate was 89.3%. Presenting vision ,6/60, in the better eye, was observed in 8.5% (95% CI: 8.1 to 8.9). Age, sex, residence, literacy, and working status were associated with blindness. The highest risk was among those aged 70+ and the illiterate. Cataract was responsible for 62.4% of bilateral blindness. Prevalence of cataract blindness was 5.3% (95% CI: 4.97 to 5.62). Reduction in blindness prevalence among people aged 50 years and above was observed compared to earlier studies. Conclusion: Blindness control efforts seem to have played a part in arresting the increasing prevalence of blindness in India and there is hope that the goals of the ''Vision 2020-right to sight'' initiative can be achieved if there is strong political will and prioritised action.

The rate of PCO was significantly higher with the hydrophilic IOL. However, the results cannot be attributed to the IOL material alone as they show the importance of both IOL material and design.

A larger IOL optic diameter was associated with less PCO.

Variance in intensity of PCO was successfully used to calculate the severity of PCO.

There was no evidence of a difference in the area of PCO after cataract surgery between 1-piece and 3-piece IOLs, which were otherwise matched for material and lens geometry.

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The POCOman is an effective, user-friendly system for quantifying PCO. It can be obtained for free and has advantages over other methods.