Increased use of TV, computer cause blindness

Ujjain, MP, June 12 (UNI) Increased use of television and computers is posing a threat to eyesight of several lakhs of people in the country.

National Community Health Programme's advisor Naresh Purohit has presented a research paper on the topic 'Present scenario of blindness control in India' at 'National Eye Symposium' held in Chennai recently.

The report stated that about five crore people in the world, including about 1.25 core people in India, have lost their eyesight because of pollution and tension-ridden lifestyle.

The report claimed that three people in the country were losing their eyesight every minute.

In a statement issued here today, Dr Purohit said the condition of women patients in rural areas was worse, as their families did not give importance to eye check-up and surgery of females members.

Likewise, eyesight of urban children has been badly affected due to increased use of television, computer and video games.

During surveys, Dr Purohit found that two types of glaucoma was found in about 10 per cent Indians, who had crossed the age of 35 years.

One out of five patients, affected by primary open-angle glaucoma, and more than half of patients suffering from primary angle-closure glaucoma, loose eyesight of one or both eyes by the time they come to know about the disease.

''If every eye expert in the country performs five cataract operations every year, blindness could be eradicated from the country,'' Dr Purohit added.

UNI