Health

Project / Drishti

ABOUT CATARACT RELATED BLINDNESS

A cataract is a cloudiness or opacity in the normally transparent crystalline lens of the eye. This cloudiness can cause a decrease in vision and may lead to eventual blindness. Globally, cataract has remained the major cause of blindness over the years. Approximately 45 million people are blind worldwide, out of which cataract accounts for 17.6 million (39%) cases. Southeast Asian region contributes to 50-80% of all blindness. A cataract is the leading cause of blindness in people above 50 years, according to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey India 2015-19. The condition is behind 66.2 percent blindness cases, 80.7 percent severe visual impairment cases and 70.2 percent moderate visual impairment cases in the age group. And these could have been avoided — around 93 percent of blindness cases and 96.2 percent of visual impairment cases in this age group were avoidable. Of all the avoidable causes, more than half were treatable, found the survey. Also, blindness is more pronounced among illiterates (3.23 percent) than literates (0.43 percent) and more prevalent in the rural population (2.14 percent) than urban (1.80 percent), found the AIIMS survey.

Eye's Screening

Cataract Cases Found

Pterygium Cases Found

Surgeries Done

key findings of then survey:

Cataract is the principal cause of blindness for people above 50 years in India. Cataract is the cause for 66.2% cases of blindness, 80.7% cases of severe visual impairment, and 70.2% cases of moderate visual impairment in the age group. Blindness is more pronounced among illiterate (3.23%) than literates (0.43%) and more prevalent in the rural population (2.14%) than urban (1.80%). Approximately 93% of cases of blindness and 96.2% visual impairment cases in this age group were avoidable. Barriers to accessing treatment include no one to accompany [the patient], seasonal preferences, and financial constraints. Among men, the most important barriers are financial constraints (31%) and local reasons (21.5%). Among women, local reasons (23.1%) and financial constraints (21.2%) were the most important barriers.

About Project DRISHTI

Eternity Foundation has launch Project ‘Drishti” on 9th September-2019 at Visakhapatnam, Like its name suggests ‘Drishti’ project is aims to curve the early eye problem and aging cataract in people above 50 year. Eternity Foundation firmly believes that the financial condition play major factor to not able to get treatment, this factor may increase the number of cataract based blindness. Eternity foundation provide support and services to those underprivileged BPL families of rural areas. Eternity Foundation has targeted for more than 2050 screening and merely 344 surgeries.

Objective of DRISHTI

To make awareness of eye problems among and senior citizens from the semi-urban community of all corners of Visakhapatnam.
To make reducing the number of Cataract based blindness among the senior citizens.
To make accessible the surgeries of cataract and the related problem like Pteryzium.
To promote eye donation and encourage people, especially youths.

Services that provided by Eternity Foundation

Free of cost eye screening by a specialized team. Free of cost advice and counseling by the ophthalmic assistant. Spectacles number will be provided for Near vision and Distance vision patients. Patients found with cataract and Pteryzium refer to the higher center of surgeries. Free of transportation from home to hospital and home retuning Free surgery and pre and post-surgery medicines will be given to the patients, Black glasses and spectacle will be given to the patient.

Eternity Foundation has been initiated project DRISHTI with the help of Pushpagiri Hospital and KIMS-ICON Hospital, these hospitals are affiliated under Arogya Raksha scheme of State Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. These institutions have shown their interest and efforts to make society better and treatment accessible to the marginalized communities.