Introduction

	National Programme for control of Blindness is centrally sponsored Programme
	At State level, State Blindness Control Society is functioning.
	At district level, eighteen District Blindness Control Societies are functioning.
	District Blindness Control Society in four new district are being formed.

Objectives

Activities

	At present the prevalence rate of blindness is 1.4 %.
	The goal is to bring it to 0.3% by 2010.
	The objective of the programme is to control & cure blindness.

The District Blindness Control Society organises the following programmes:

	Cataract Screening and operations.
	School eye screening programme.
	Awareness and educational programmes for prevention of Blindness.
	Eye banking for cornel transplantation.

Problem Area

The major opthalmological diseases present in the state are :

	Xerophthalmia ( Vit A def.)
	Cataract
	Glaucoma
	Conjunctivitis
	Refractive Errors

	Iritis
	Dacryocystitis
	Ocular Trauma
	Corneal Ulcers
	Disease of Posterior Segment

Planned Measures

	Developing institutional capacity by providing consumable items, instrument/ equipments, spectacles & I.O.L.
	Developing human resources for eye care by training of eye surgeons, training school teachers for school screening.
	Promoting outreach activities and public awareness by improving Medical College, Sadar Hospital, PHC.
	Strengthening and preparing blind registers.
	Establishing dedicated eye operation theatres and eye words.

Achievements

	Twenty two district hospitals have been equipped with Microscope, A – Scan, Slit lamp and Keratometer for implanting Intraocular lens in cataract surgery.
	Thirty eye surgeons form the State nominated for training in I.O.L. surgery.
	Almost 70,000 cataract surgeries performed in last 3 years.
	Atmost 1.5 lakh children examined during school eye screening programme and about 750 children with refractive error provided with free spectacles.
	40 eye donated by donors after death and 40 corneal transplantation done on cases with corneal blindness by two Eye Banks.