CHENNAI: Over 80 per cent of visual impairment in Children can be corrected, if treated at the right time. To address this issue, Sankara Nethralaya has partnered with Orbis, an international NGO working for prevention of blindness and has launched REACH (Refractive Error Among Children) programme on Monday.

Justice S Jagadeesan inaugurated the programme at a function held at Sankara Nethralaya. Under REACH, doctors would cover over 3, lakh school children in Kancheepuram District. The three year programme would be carried out in three phases. In Phase-I, the children will be screened and glasses provided to those requiring it. In Phase-II, the children would be revisited and guided to use it regularly. In Phase-III, the results of the outcome would be recorded.

This would held in eliciting scientific evidence on the cause for refractive blindness in children and also their difficulty in continuing the glasses. “REACH, also will be launched in other cities like Madurai besides West Bengal and other states,” said Dr Sumita Agarkar, Deputy Director, Paediatric Ophthalmologist, Sankara Nethralaya.

The study will be conducted by Qatar Development Fund. Dr Rahul Ali, country Director, Orbis, Dr T S Surendran, vice-chairman, Sankara Nethralaya also spoke at the function.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/REACH-to-school-children/2016/08/15/article3581120.ece