Department of Health and Family Welfare

National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB)

Physical Performance Report for the last 5 (five) Years

At present the blindness rate is 0.74% as compared to the Natural rate of 1.1%. The Contributing factors to blindness are mainly Cataract, Refractive Errors, Corneal Diseases, Glaucoma, Squint, Injuries, Vitamin A Deficiencies etc.

OPD's School Eye Screenings and Eye Camps are the Regular activities of the NPCB. Cataract Cases detected in the Camps and OPD are brought to the base Hospital and operated. Refractive Errors detected in school children were prescribed with suitable spectacles and for these who could not afford, free spectacles were provided through the societies.

The School Eye Screenings for the last 5 (five) years is summarize below :-

School Eye Screening:-

Year Teachers trained in screening Number of children screened Children detected with refractive errors Children provided Glasses
2002-2003 1269 15851 671 203
2003-2004 423 36859 3436 199
2004-2005 638 57836 4276 156
2005-2006 454 48477 4839 452
2006-2007 125 48352 6007 750

It can be seen that the turn-out of the patients for screening have been progressively better. However, non-compliance by the patient is still there and a lot is to be stressed by intensifying Health Education efforts, so that a 100% compliance can be achieved. Some of the main reasons that can be accounted for some patients not to undertake surgery are as follows :-

  1. Fear of Surgery.
  2. Lack of Co-operation from patient's relatives.
  3. Still believing in Myths and take blindness as fate.