Blindness Prevention in Africa

A Chinese surgical program takes off in Malawi and Zimbabwe ON November 25,2010,the joy was palpable at Chitungwiza General Hospital,a medical center 30km away from Harare,Zimbabwe. Ophthalmology patients were having their eyes examined.An elderly lady diagnosed with cataracts,now post-surgery,was effusive, "The eye with the cataract now can see even more clearly than the other one! I’m deeply thankful to the Chinese doctors."

From barn lanterns to the 5G Intelligent Ophthalmic Cruiser:The perspective of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on the modality and efficiency of blindness prevention in China

Blindness prevention has been an important national policy in China.Previous strategies,such as deploying experienced cataract surgeons to rural areas and assisting in building local ophthalmology centers,had successfully decreased the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness.However,new challenges arise with the aging population and the shift of the disease spectrum towards age-related eye diseases and myopia.With the constant technological boom,digital healthcare innovations in ophthalmology could immensely enhance screening and diagnosing capabilities.Artificial intelligence(AI)and telemedicine have been proven valuable in clinical ophthalmology settings.Moreover,the integration of cutting-edge communication technology and AI in mobile clinics and remote surgeries is on the horizon,potentially revolutionizing blindness prevention and ophthalmic healthcare.The future of blindness prevention in China is poised to undergo significant transformation,driven by emerging challenges and new opportunities.

Comparative study on preventing avoidable blindness in China and in Nepal

Background ＂Vision 2020＂ was initiated in 1999 and many relevant activities are ongoing, but little information is available on what it has achieved and what constraints it faces. It is not yet clear if funding is the most important constraint. Nepal is one of the underdeveloped countries, but an advanced country in preventing avoidable blindness. The aim of this study was to compare the situation in China and in Nepal in prevention of avoidable blindness. Methods Data from literature review and a field visit were combined. All statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS Version 11.5. The chi-square test was used for comparisons involving categorical variables. Results The blindness rate is higher in Nepal than that in China （P〈0.05）. The average number of cataract operations performed by one ophthalmologist is much lower in China than in Nepal. The cataract surgical rate （CSR） is much lower in China than in Nepal （P〈0.001）. High cost of the surgery and inadequate qualifications of human resources were found in China. Cataract surgical outcome in China compared well with international standards. Conclusions Progress towards the ＂Vision 2020＂ target in China is much slower than that in Nepal. Further attention to address this issue is urgently needed.

Improving capacity building by implementing comprehensive eye care project,experiences from Kuandian County,China

The global campaign “Vision 2020： The Right to Sight” was officially launched in Geneva byDr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Director General of World Health Organization （ WHO ） in February 1999. This represents the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness by the year 2020.1 Seven months later, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness （IAPB） General Assembly was held in Beijing, China. During the IAPB General Assembly, the Chinese Ministry of Health, China Disabled Person＇ s Federation together with WHO launched the national campaign “Vision 2020： The Right to Sight” in China.