Harrowing Blindness and Ocular Morbidity in a Himalayan Village

Abstract

To address this terrible situation, we propose the following solutions: in the short term, conduct regular eye health camps with appropriate management locally. In the long term, to strengthen primary eye care and integrate it into general health, by training primary health care workers in primary eye care (more specifically assessing visual acuity) establishing adequate referral channels. Currently, unfortunately, much of eye care service delivery remains centered on the district headquarters and accessible places, with other remote regions left unattended. We hope our report will awaken all concerned to the dire need for equitable eye care across the country.

Pervasive Blindness and ocular morbidity in the Chepang people of Nepal

“…As suggested in a paper, we would like to suggest the following ways: a) eye care should be made integral part of primary health care and primary health care workers be trained in eye care so that appropriate management at local level can be instituted (Pokharel et al, 2016),b) because a greater proportion of patients were glaucoma suspects, population genetic studies of this community might reveal any loci, which could mark a milestone in the understanding and management of glaucoma in this group in particular c) regularly conduct eye health camps to screen for disorders and manage them appropriately; d) provide proper eye health counseling to people in the remote places by improving the current counseling occurring in certain places of the country; the current counseling maintains that people need to seek care for cataract only after they get unable to count their own fingers with the arms stretched. Such inappropriate counseling can lead to blindness with glaucoma.…”