Prevention of blindness
161 million people worldwide have a visual impairment, 37 million of them are blind. 90% of all blind people live in developing countries. Over 75% would not have lost their eyesight in the first place, if they had been treated in time. The leading cause of visual impairment is cataract. It is responsible for 48% of all blindness cases worldwide, even though it is treatable by relatively simple means.
In 1998 the World Health Organisation (WHO) and NGOs working in the field of blindness prevention launched the global initiative "VISION 2020 - The Right To Sight". The ambitious objective: to eliminate preventable blindness by the year 2020. The core of the campaign is to develop and implement national blindness prevention plans. Government institutions define the priorities, coordinate and implement activities in their respective countries with non-governmental organisations, professional associations and educational institutions.
Since 20 years LIGHT FOR THE WORLD is actively involved in prevention of blindness and focuses on activities to ensure medical eye care for people in less advantaged regions and successfully helps to restore and save eyesight. In Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, Northeast-India and Pakistan, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD is engaged in national blindness prevention programmes to reach the goal defined by VISION 2020.
Major causes of preventable blindness
Cataract Cataract is the most common cause of blindness worldwide and responsible for the loss of vision of 18 million people. Cataract is an opacity of the eye lens and can occur as a consequence of the ageing process, after untreated infections, trauma, or various illnesses. Congenital cataract is often due to a rubella infection during pregnancy. The sight of a person blind from cataract can be restored in a surgical procedure that lasts about 15 minutes. Under local anesthetic the opaque lens is replaced by a clear artificial lens. Having regained their sight, the patient can return home the following day. Cataract surgeries are among the most effective health interventions according to the World Health Organisation.
In the last 20 years, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD has made over 340.000 cataract surgeries possible.
Trachoma
150 million people worldwide suffer from trachoma while 6 million have already gone blind from it. Trachoma is a consequence of untreated eye infections prevalent in regions that lack clean water for daily hygiene. Repeated infections can cause the lid to develop scars, turning the eye lashes inwards and rubbing on the cornea. The process of going blind from trachoma is long and very painful. Once sight is lost it cannot be restored again, but pain and suffering continues. In Ethiopia LIGHT FOR THE WORLD supports the mass distribution of antibiotics in highly endemic areas, reaching 400.000 people in 2008, and also provides assistance for the eyelid surgery necessary at a more advanced stage of the infection. The programmes follow the WHO established SAFE standards, addressing all necessary factors of Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environment, to be successful with the treatment.
Childhood blindness
Around 1.5 million children worldwide are blind due to preventable causes like Vitamin A deficiency, congenital or traumatic cataract, untreated infections, and unidentified refractive errors. LIGHT FOR THE WORLD supports child screenings in schools for early identification and treatment, the provision of spectacles, as well as programmes for childhood cataract surgeries. In addition, the programmes address parents and teachers to raise their awareness on preventing childhood blindness.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness worldwide, responsible for 5 million people's sight loss. In developing countries the eye clinics often lack equipment to diagnose glaucoma and providing treatment is particularly challenging. It is important then to train ophthalmologists in this field and to develop adjusted intervention strategies.
Visual impairment
Low Vision and uncorrected refractive errors
About 124 million people worldwide live with Low Vision. A person with Low Vision has a moderate to severe visual impairment, even after all possible medical intervention was performed. People with Low Vision need suitable medical attention, assistive devices and rehabilitation to develop their abilities and manage their daily lives.
Additionally, 153 million people live with uncorrected refractive errors. Without adequate help they have limited access to education and employment opportunities and consequently cannot lead an independent life. It is estimated that in the majority of Africa only 20% have access to adequate visual aids. In Uganda, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD supports the first national programme for the correction of refractive errors.