1.21 lakh patients given eye treatment

Bhopal, Jan 9 (UNI) More than 1.21 lakh patients were given treatment in Madhya Pradesh under the blindness control programme in 2005-06 with 92 per cent patients receiving lens transplant.

''Against a target of 1.09 lakh patients, more than 1.21 lakh patients were provided treatment by November 2006,'' Health Commissioner Rajesh Rajora said.

During eye-testing of about 23.01 lakh schoolchildren, vision-related problems were diagnosed in 38,333 children. Of them, 12,233 schoolchildren were given free spectacles by the administration.

More than 50 per cent patients belonged to SC, ST and backward community. Of them, 65 per cent patients were operated for cataract.

In an attempt to provide eye-treatment facilities in remote areas, a target has been set to establish a vision centre over a population of every 50,000 in the coming years.

UNI