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Around 10 million children in India suffer from blindness related ailments, including basic sight problems.
They are part of the 100 million Indians who face the plight of mostly preventable blindness and in many cases treatable, according to Vinod Daniel, CEO of the India Vision Institute (IVI).
The world's visually impaired will be the subject of some serious discussions at the upcoming 2nd World Congress of Optometry to be held in Hyderabad during September 11-13. The Congress will not only highlight and raise awareness of issues, but will also further the important strides made in India to improve both access to vision care and reduce avoidable blindness.
Preventable blindness and eyecare delivery as a public health issue is important in tackling problems. The Congress will deliberate key issues, skill development and training optometrists and vision care delivery as an integral part of public health.
The Congress is being hosted by the World Council of Optometry, the Asia-Pacific Council of Optometry and the IVI. About 1,500 delegates are expected to participate. About 600 abstracts have so far been received.
The conference theme is 'Accessible, quality vision and eye health'. It ties into WHO's Universal eye health: A global action plan 2014-19, which aims to reduce the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment by 25 per cent by 2017.
The CEO of the Australia-based Brian Holden Institute, Kevin Naidoo, the conference chair, said the conference will bring together experts in public health and clinical care. The twin challenges of quality care and access will be addressed.
The event will be held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.
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