A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums

Background: Blindness and Vision impairment remains a major public health issue not only in rural but also in urban areas. Concept of using peripheral health centers to render primary health care services to the community was a WHO proposed model. However, establishing them in urban slums is a chall...

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Main Authors: Prema K Chande, Hiral Korani, B R Shamanna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
Series:Oman Journal of Ophthalmology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ojoonline.org/article.asp?issn=0974-620X;year=2015;volume=8;issue=2;spage=107;epage=110;aulast=Chande
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author Prema K Chande
Hiral Korani
B R Shamanna
author_facet Prema K Chande
Hiral Korani
B R Shamanna
author_sort Prema K Chande
collection DOAJ
description Background: Blindness and Vision impairment remains a major public health issue not only in rural but also in urban areas. Concept of using peripheral health centers to render primary health care services to the community was a WHO proposed model. However, establishing them in urban slums is a challenge as most of the slums are illegal establishments. So, aim was to establish vision centers for providing primary eye care services in the urban slums of Mumbai, West India. Methods: Vision centers were established in various slum pockets of Mumbai from the year 2008 till 2009. Refraction and screening for ocular morbidity were carried out for those who attended this center and management for uncorrected refractive errors was done. Results: Data from 6 such vision centers located in various slum pockets of Mumbai city from April 9 to March 2011 were collected and analyzed. Of the 19,550 adults, 2270 (11.61%) had moderate vision impairment with presenting visual acuity of <0.5 LogMAR in both eyes. Severe Visual impairment was seen in (723) 3.70%. Blindness was seen in (357) 1.82%. Of the 2993, which were moderately and severely visually impaired, 1893 subjects that is, 63.24% of them improved to 0.2 LogMAR or better with spectacle correction Conclusions: About 63.24% of visual impairment was due to uncorrected refractive errors, these included both moderately and severely vision impaired. Totally, 357 (1.82%) were also identified as blind. This model of vision centers has a role in the identification and management of sight-threatening problems.
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spelling doaj.art-e194384eac6246918ec41facbef530632022-12-22T01:47:23ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsOman Journal of Ophthalmology0974-620X2015-01-018210711010.4103/0974-620X.159258A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slumsPrema K ChandeHiral KoraniB R ShamannaBackground: Blindness and Vision impairment remains a major public health issue not only in rural but also in urban areas. Concept of using peripheral health centers to render primary health care services to the community was a WHO proposed model. However, establishing them in urban slums is a challenge as most of the slums are illegal establishments. So, aim was to establish vision centers for providing primary eye care services in the urban slums of Mumbai, West India. Methods: Vision centers were established in various slum pockets of Mumbai from the year 2008 till 2009. Refraction and screening for ocular morbidity were carried out for those who attended this center and management for uncorrected refractive errors was done. Results: Data from 6 such vision centers located in various slum pockets of Mumbai city from April 9 to March 2011 were collected and analyzed. Of the 19,550 adults, 2270 (11.61%) had moderate vision impairment with presenting visual acuity of <0.5 LogMAR in both eyes. Severe Visual impairment was seen in (723) 3.70%. Blindness was seen in (357) 1.82%. Of the 2993, which were moderately and severely visually impaired, 1893 subjects that is, 63.24% of them improved to 0.2 LogMAR or better with spectacle correction Conclusions: About 63.24% of visual impairment was due to uncorrected refractive errors, these included both moderately and severely vision impaired. Totally, 357 (1.82%) were also identified as blind. This model of vision centers has a role in the identification and management of sight-threatening problems.http://www.ojoonline.org/article.asp?issn=0974-620X;year=2015;volume=8;issue=2;spage=107;epage=110;aulast=ChandeCommunity Based Organizationpresbyopiauncorrected refractive errorsvision centers
spellingShingle Prema K Chande
Hiral Korani
B R Shamanna
A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums
Oman Journal of Ophthalmology
Community Based Organization
presbyopia
uncorrected refractive errors
vision centers
title A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums
title_full A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums
title_fullStr A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums
title_full_unstemmed A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums
title_short A novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums
title_sort novel strategy for management of uncorrected refractive errors in urban slums
topic Community Based Organization
presbyopia
uncorrected refractive errors
vision centers
url http://www.ojoonline.org/article.asp?issn=0974-620X;year=2015;volume=8;issue=2;spage=107;epage=110;aulast=Chande
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