'20.7 million blind in India'

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Allahabad, Nov 22 (UNI) Even as cataract remains a major cause of blindness in India, 20.7 million people are blind in the country and nearly 80 per cent of the blindness is avoidable or treatable.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology Director Dr S P Singh, said cataract accounts for 9.5 million blind people in the country.

''We perform around three million cataract surgeries each year, but about 3.8 million new cases are added annualy. Thus, about 0.8 million fresh cases are added to our backlog,'' he added.

Dr Singh, who is also Head, Department of Ophthalmology, Motilal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad, said the two-day 41st annual conference of the UP State Ophthalmological Society would begin here on November 25.

About 500 experts would discuss recent and advanced technologies in surgical management of the cataract.

Dr Singh, who is also the event's organising secretary, said the main conference would be held on November 25, where Dr Daljit Singh -- an eminent ophthalmologist of international repute -- would be the chief guest.

UNI JL ATI VS DKA GC1725

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X