Medical

Contraceptive pill 'doubles risk of leading cause of blindness'

Scientists warn that the contraceptive pill may play a role in the leading cause of blindness, glaucoma, and urge women at risk to have their eyes screened

OLED-Enhanced Super Glasses Could Help Blind People See

Eyeglasses have long improved the vision of nearsighted and farsighted people, but now, researchers at the University of Oxford are developing a pair that could help the blind see.

Prevention need of the hour to check visual impairment

Regular eye check-up and early diagnosis of eye disorder are crucial for preventing permanent visual damage. This was the thrust of the 14th World Sight Day observed in the city on Saturday.

An event on this year’s theme “Universal Eye Health - get your eyes tested” was jointly organised by Ophthalmic Cell of Directorate of Health Services and Kar Vision Eye Hospital.

Lack of Access to Eye Care Services Leading to Avoidable Blindness

To mark the start National Eye Health Week, Lenstore has investigated the state of the world's eyesight. They've used their research to create an infographic about visual impairment around the world, to raise awareness about some of the key issues.

Fewer corneas in sight for the blind

It has been 37 years since the central government launched the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) to reduce the number of visually impaired persons in the country. As another eye donation awareness fortnight concluded on Sunday in Madurai, the target of NPCB is yet to be attained. Although Tamil Nadu, among the states and Madurai, among districts in the state, are performing fairly in eradicating blindness, ophthalmologists feel that the number of cornea donors is not enough to meet the demand.

Research highlighting superior numerical skills of congenitally blind people could open up new ways of teaching maths to young children

University of Hull psychologist Dr Julie Castronovo's research with congenitally blind volunteers has revealed their enhanced skills in processing numerical information during tests.

The research, published in specialist journals, shows that during numerical tasks, the congenitally blind volunteers showed outstanding estimation skills - better than those of sighted volunteers.

Government Medical College and Hospital intensifies eye donation campaign

AURANGABAD: More than three million await corneal transplantation in India alone. With the demand outstripping the supply across the country, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has intensified its eye donation campaign. Under the ongoing National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), the ophthalmology department has organised various educational and awareness events. These will go on till September 8.

Rally sets sight on eye donation

Chennai: Over 20 million people lose their eyesight due to various problems in India; of this, corneal blindness accounts for two million.

“If you take corneal blindness, 50 per cent of two million are children below the age of 15,” informs Dr. Mohan Rajan of Rajan Eye Care Hospital.

In order to create awareness among people, eye donation fortnight is observed from August 25 and September 8 every year.

A battle with preventable blindness

G. Vasudharini (17) should have started college this year but has just been admitted to class VIII. She lost five years of schooling to preventable blindness.

Vasudharini’s parents are first cousins. The couple have four daughters and all of them suffer from corneal dystrophy, a condition which may be asymptomatic initially, but might require treatment including surgery at a later date.

Keep an ‘eye’ on the demand

More than three million people are waiting for corneal transplants in India, while only about 50,000 corneal donations are made in the country, said K. Bhujang Shetty, chairperson of Narayana Nethralaya.

The hospital has intensified its eye donation campaign in the State to create awareness and bridge the gap between demand and supply of corneas in the country.