GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Sept. A new report emphasizes the critical need for increased public awareness and improved optometry education to combat the growing challenge of uncorrected refractive error (URE) in India. The report, titled “Addressing Uncorrected Refractive Error in India,” was published by the India Vision Institute (IVI), an NGO dedicated to enhancing the country’s primary eye care capacity.
According to the World Health Organization, refractive errors—such as myopia (shortsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism—occur when light does not focus on the retina due to abnormalities in the eye’s shape or length, leading to blurred vision.
Co-authored by IVI CEO Vinod Daniel and Ramachandran P, Chair of the IVI Advisory Committee, the report highlights the urgent need to address the shortage of eye care professionals. It calls for an additional 100,000 optometrists and technicians, especially in underserved rural areas.
Daniel noted that URE is the leading cause of vision impairment in India, affecting 59% of adults and 7.5% of children. With over 200 million people lacking access to corrective eyewear, the economic loss due to URE exceeds Rs 1 lakh crore annually.
The report recommends enhancing optometry education by improving curricula and expanding training programs to produce highly skilled professionals. It also emphasizes the integration of technology to tackle the issue effectively. Research cited in the report indicates that correcting refractive errors can boost productivity by 32% and increase individual income by 33%.
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