Sri Lanka - Eye Care Statistics

The World Health Organization reports that impressive successes in the quest to eliminate blindness have been made in Sri Lanka, an island nation located off the south-eastern coast of India, in recent years. This can be partially attributed to success in moving toward achieving some of the Vision 2020 priorities.

It has been estimated that the number of blind in Sri Lanka ranges from nearly 93,000 to approximately 150,000 individuals.Vision 2020 places the national blindness prevalence at 0.5% of the population, which falls within the ranges set by other studies. The major causes of blindness include cataract (responsible for up to 70%), refractive error, and glaucoma.

A 2000 study of blindness in Sri Lankan children estimated the prevalence of childhood blindness to be 0.3 for every 1000 children. This study examined blind school children in multiple countries and reported the prevalence of severe visual loss in the Sri Lankan students at 33.2%. This was the highest prevalence in the countries studied. In adults, Sinhalese ethnicity (which makes up 74% of the population)was significantly associated with developing age related macular degeneration.

Vision 2020 provides guidelines on the number of ophthalmologists needed for an area based on population. Sri Lanka has approximately 38 ophthalmologists which falls short of the minimum of 80 (4 for every 1,000,000 residents) recommended.The majority of Sri Lankans have never had an eye exam for a variety of reasons including the expense and a lack of access to care.A team of researchers conducted two studies examining cataract rates in rural Sri Lankan villages in 2009 and 2010. They found that 33.1% of adults studied had cataracts. The likelihood that an individual would receive cataract surgery increased with male gender and worse visual acuity. The most common reasons for denying surgical intervention were not being interested, fear of surgery, and a lack of awareness about cataracts and treatment.

Source http://www.curableblindness.org/region/south-asia/srilanka.html

 

  • ANATOMY OF THE HUMAN EYE

The Human eye, the organ that gives us the sense of sight is known to be the most complex organ in our body and the most treasured of all human senses. Made up of many delicate working parts it can be compared to a camera. It allows us to interpret shapes, colours and dimensions of objects by processing the light they reflect or emit. The eye is able to detect bright or dim light but cannot sense objects in the absence of light. The quality of our vision depends on how well each part of the eye interacts with each other and since more than 90% of our knowledge is obtained through our eyes, vision is the most valued of the five senses.
  • THE PROCESS OF VISION
  1. Vision is where light is gathered and transformed into a picture that we can interpret.

  2. The light enter the eye through the Cornea (similar to the glass of the camera's aperture) a transparent external surface, considered the first and most powerful lens in the optical system of the eye and together with the crystalline lens allows the production of sharp images on the retina.

  3. The light then passes through the Pupil (situated at the center of the coloured Iris) where the amount of light is controlled (similar to the camera shutter) and then through the lens

  4. After the image finally reaches the retina (forming an upside down image) at the back of the eye (similar to the camera film).

  5. Here the retina converts the image into impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain which converts the image into upright visual images.

  6. Clear vision happens only if the cornea and lens correctly blend or refract the light rays and focus them on the retina.

  7. Blurry vision may be due to a refractive error for which prescription eye glasses, contact lenses, refractive surgery is carried out to improve these errors
  • COMMON EYE CONDITIONS

Myopia (Near-sightedness / Short-sightedness)

When distant objects appear blurred or fuzzy because the light rays are not in focus by the time they reach the retina. This can be easily corrected with spectacles or contact lenses.

 

Hyperopia (Far-sightedness / Long-sightedness)

Far-sighted or Long-sighted people have greater difficulty seeing near objects than distant objects. This condition can easily corrected with spectacles or contact lenses.

 

Presbyopia (Also known as after 40 vision) - Presbyopia is a condition in which the lens of the eye loses its ability to focus, making it difficult to see objects up-close. This happens as part of the aging process when the elasticity of the eye slowly decreases. There is no cure for presbyopia, but it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. In some cases, adding bifocals to an existing lens prescription. This is a natural part of the aging process and affects everyone.

 
 

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