The incidence of childhood blindness is increasing in the subcontinent. We need to curb this," says Dr. Md. Younas Khan.

Dr. Md. Younas Khan and Dr. Md. Naeem Khan of Peshawar, Pakistan are here to specialise in paediatric ophthalmology. Their visit is part of a training programme sponsored by the Vision 2020 of the World Health Organisation at the L V Prasad Eye Hospital, Hyderabad.

All India Awareness Welfare Association of the Blind has pleaded to the government of Tamil Nadu to implement the schemes and concessions for the blind and handicapped persons announced by the Chief Minister, under Section 110 in the Assembly.

Gallery Tom, in the quiet Shoto district of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, recently held ‘Boku-tachi no Tsukutta Mono 2005’ (‘The things we made - 2005’) featuring about 60 works by children at schools for the blind from around Japan. This year, the works were expected to be included among a set of pieces to tour Spain, thanks to the Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos Espanoles (ONCE) which has been actively involved in promoting blind artists and helping young visually impaired people receive education.

According to the latest findings of the Eye Bank Association of India, there are around 10 million blind people in the country, of which 2 million suffer from corneal blindness, with more than 60 per cent of them being children below the age of 12. Gujarat alone has about 40,000 children suffering from corneal blindness.

This revelation came as the country celebrated ‘Prevention of Corneal Blindness in Children Fortnight’ from August 25 to September 9 to bring awareness about preventing corneal blindness, especially in children below 12 years.

Waymark Holidays, one of the UK’s leading Europe walking tour companies is working with disability charity Vitalise to offer walking tours in Austria and Spain this year for visually impaired clients.

It is well known that visually impaired people have heightened sense of smell, taste and hearing. The trips have been chosen to capitalize on their enhanced senses, while giving them the chance to get out and walk in some of the most beautiful areas in Europe.

Anandan, a daily wage earner in a confectionery-making unit in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu was upset when he saw a blind man falling into a pit and struggling to regain control. The incident inspired him to develop a cane that would inform the holder if an obstacle was near.

His walking stick works with the help of two battery cells and a secially fitted three-foot aerial, which vibrates whenever the user comes across an obstacle.

"It is absolutely an awesome feeling. It was over so fast", that’s 33-year-old Hein Wagner for you, the world's fastest blind driver. Driving a red Maserati V8 Gransport, he notched up 269 kilometres per hour (167miles per hour) along an airstrip in northwest South Africa. He broke the previous record of 233 kilometres per hour (144 miles per hour).

According to the Helen Keller International, (HKI), cataract alone was responsible for 600,00 cases of blindness in Nigeria.

The incidence of trachoma infections was also rampant in the northern zone of the country. Tracing the causes of blindness, NGO said, it was linked to the hygiene and sanitation practices of the people.