World Sight Day >>Wsd-06 Low Vision And Refractive

World Sight Day, 12th October 2006

LOW VISION AND REFRACTIVE ERROR

The aim of VISION 2020 in relation to these conditions is the elimination of visual impairment and blindness due to refractive errors and visual rehabilitation for those with permanent low vision.
Present situation
1. Significant visually disabling refractive error affects a large proportion of the world’s population, affecting both genders and all age and ethnic groups. Many have permanent low vision that requires rehabilitation services. Refractive error can be simply diagnosed, measured and corrected with spectacles. Their provision is extremely cost-effective and should be an integral part of eye care delivery. The lack of refraction services and spectacle provision in under served communities has negative consequences in terms of lost educational and employment opportunities, impaired quality of life and productivity for the individual, the family and society.
2. The steps in the provision of refraction services and low vision care for a patient are as follows:

• Screening: Identification of individuals with poor vision which can be improved by spectacles or other optical devices.
• Refraction: Evaluation of the patient to determine what spectacles or device may be required.
• Manufacture: Manufacture of the spectacles or an appropriate device, either of which may be manufactured locally, purchased externally, or donated.
• Dispensing: Issuing of the spectacles or device, ensuring a good fit of the correct prescription.
• Follow-Up: Repair of spectacles/devices or repeat dispensing.
• Indicator: Prevalence of blindness and visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive errors and of low vision, and percentage of people corrected/rehabilitated.

Strategies

• Create awareness and demand for refractive services through community-based services/primary eye care and school screening.
• Develop accessible refractive services for individuals identified with significant refractive errors. This will require training in refraction and dispensing for paramedical eye workers if ophthalmologists and/or refractionist's are not available in sufficient number.
• Ensure that optical services provide affordable spectacles for individuals with significant refractive errors.
• Develop and make available low vision services and optical devices for all those in need, including children in blind-school or integrated education. Certain low vision devices can be manufactured locally, or purchased externally in bulk supplies to reduce costs.
• Include the provision of comprehensive low vision care as an integral part of national programmes for the prevention of blindness, or rehabilitative services for the visually disabled.