Corneal blindness leading cause of concern for eye health in India, say experts

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Corneal blindness is on the rise in India, with the country seeing an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 new cases every year, claimed Dr. Smit Bavaria, Cataract Surgeon, Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Mumbai, on Thursday.

October is observed as Blindness Awareness Month every year to highlight the issues faced by blind and visually challenged people, and raise awareness about preventable factors leading to the condition.

Addressing a press conference on this important issue, Dr. Bavaria stated, "The causes of corneal blindness have shifted in recent years from infectious diseases like keratitis to eye trauma and other eye complications, but the burden remains substantial, especially in rural areas where access to eye care is limited."

What is corneal blindness?

Corneal blindness refers to the damage or scarring of the cornea due to infectious diseases or other disorders, that can lead to partial or complete visual impairment.

Talking about the condition, Dr. Preethi Naveen, Senior Cornea and Refractive Surgeon and Medical Director, Dr. Agarwal's Eye Bank, Chennai said, "Corneal blindness is a significant cause of vision loss in India, affecting approximately 12 lakh people. India's high prevalence of corneal blindness is primarily due to infections like trachoma and keratitis, eye injuries in industrial and agricultural settings and widespread vitamin A deficiency. Poor hygiene, delayed medical interventions and limited access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas further aggravate the problem."

She further stressed that children and working-age adults in rural areas are particularly susceptible due to malnutrition, frequent eye injuries and limited healthcare access. Elderly individuals are also at risk due to degenerative eye conditions. Overall, an estimated 1-2 per cent of India's total population is at risk of developing corneal blindness.

How to diagnose and treat corneal blindness?

Addressing this question, Dr. Naveen said, "Current diagnostic methods for corneal blindness in India include a comprehensive eye examination, visual acuity testing and slit-lamp biomicroscopy, which allow ophthalmologists to assess corneal clarity and identify conditions like keratitis, ulcers or scarring. Advanced imaging techniques such as anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and corneal topography provide detailed assessments of corneal thickness and surface irregularities, aiding in accurate diagnosis. Corneal transplantation or therapeutic interventions are also highly successful in individuals without significant underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or severe immune disorders, which may complicate recovery."

Challenges in diagnosing and treating corneal blindness

Challenges in accessibility and healthcare disparities persist, highlighting the need for continued and targeted interventions.

Dr. Sanjana Vatsa, Cornea and Refractive Eye Surgeon, Bengaluru, Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital said, "Many patients in rural areas lack access to quality eye care services, which often results in irreversible corneal damage before they seek help. Additionally, there is a substantial gap in training and resources for healthcare providers, limiting their ability to effectively manage and treat corneal conditions. Shortage of corneal donors is also one of the major barriers, as there are few organised corneal transplant programs in place. Despite efforts to promote eye donation and corneal transplantation, the demand for corneas significantly outpaces supply, with only 25,000 to 30,000 corneal donations annually against a need for 200,000 transplants. Socio-economic factors, such as poverty and malnutrition, exacerbate the risk of corneal blindness, making it difficult to implement comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies."

The way forward

Dr. Vatsa suggested the following measures to reduce incidences of corneal blindness in India:

• At an individual level, there is a need to increase awareness about eye health, encouraging routine eye examinations to identify and treat issues at an early stage.
• Launching initiatives focused on eye health education and the importance of corneal donation can increase public participation.
• Implementing programs to address nutritional deficiencies, particularly Vitamin A supplementation in vulnerable populations, can reduce cornea-related issues.

Also Read: More than 85 per cent of blindness cases in India preventable: Experts