Refugee Eye Care: A Frequently Overlooked Dimension of Disaster Assistance

Abstract

During the 1986 Refugee Health Group Workshop held at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the lead author surveyed 35 refugee workers' perceptions of blindness and its prevention in refugee communities. This paper analyzes and reports the results. Those surveyed generally agreed that blindness is a community problem of public health magnitude in most, if not all, refugee communities. In addition, respondents reported inadequate eye care services and a scarcity of literature on the topic. Refugee health organizations often overlook the need for eye care, and blindness prevention agencies are often unaware of the needs of particular refugee communities. The authors make recommendations for stimulating greater interest and active involvement in the prevention of blindness among refugees.