Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Is the 2015 eye care service delivery profile in Southeast Asia closer to universal eye health need!

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The year 2015 status of eye care service profile in Southeast Asia countries was compared with year 2010 data to determine the state of preparedness to achieve the World Health Organization global action plan 2019.

Methods

Information was collected from the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness country chairs and from the recent PubMed referenced articles. The data included the following: blindness and low vision prevalence, national eye health policy, eye health expenses, presence of international non-governmental organizations, density of eye health personnel, and the cataract surgical rate and coverage. The last two key parameters were compared with year 2010 data.

Results

Ten of 11 country chairs shared the information, and 28 PubMed referenced publications were assessed. The prevalence of blindness was lowest in Bhutan and highest in Timor-Leste. Cataract surgical rate was high in India and Sri Lanka. Cataract surgical coverage was high in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Despite increase in number of ophthalmologists in all countries (except Timor-Leste), the ratio of the population was adequate (1:100,000) only in 4 of 10 countries (Bhutan, India, Maldives and Thailand), but this did not benefit much due to unequal urban–rural divide.

Conclusion

The midterm assessment suggests that all countries must design the current programs to effectively address both current and emerging causes of blindness. Capacity building and proportionate distribution of human resources for adequate rural reach along with poverty alleviation could be the keys to achieve the universal eye health by 2019.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pascolini D, Mariotti SP (2011) Global estimates of visual impairment: 2010. Br J Ophthalmol. doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol2011-300539

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. WHO South East Regional Office (2012) Situational analysis of VISION 2020 in the WHO South East Asia region 2012

  3. Universal eye health (2013) A global action plan 2014–2019.WHO publication. ISSN: 978 92 4 150656

  4. Dandona L, Dandona R, Srinivas M, Giridhar P, Vilas K, Prasad MN, John RK, McCarty CA, Rao GN (2001) Blindness in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 42:908–916

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Murthy GV, Gupta SK, Bachani D, Jose R, John N (2005) Current estimates of blindness in India. Br J Ophthalmol 89:257–260

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Neena J, Rachel J, Praveen V, Murthy GV, Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness India Study Group (2008) Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in India. PLoS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002867

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Sapkota YD, Sunuwar M, Naito T, Akura J, Adhikari HK (2010) The Prevalence of blindness and cataract surgery in Rautahat district, Nepal. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 17:82–89

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wadud Z, Kuper H, Polack S, Linfield R, Akm HR, Choudhury KA, Linfield T, Limburg H, Foster A (2006) Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness and needs assessment of cataract surgical services in Satkhira district, Bangladesh. Br J Ophthalmol 90:1225–1229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Dineen BP, Bourne RR, Ali SM, Huq DM, Johnson GJ (2003) Prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment in Bangladeshi adults: results of the National Blindness and Low vision survey of Bangladesh. Br J Ophthalmol 87:820–828

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Edussuriya K, Sennanayke S, Senaratne T, Marshall D, Sullivan T, Selva D, Casson RJ (2009) The prevalence and causes of visual impairment in central Sri Lanka, the Kandy Eye Study. Ophthalmology 116:52–56

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Casson RJ, Newland HS, Mueke J, McGovern S, Durkin S, Sullivan T, Oo TZ, Aung TH, Shein WK, Selva D, Aung T (2007) Prevalence and causes of visual impairment in rural Myanmar, the Meiktila Eye Study. Ophthalmology 114:2302–2308

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ramke J, Palagyi A, Naduvilath T, du Toit R, Brian G (2007) Prevalence and causes of blindness and low vision in Timor-Leste. Br J Ophthalmol 91:1117–1121

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Saw SM, Husain R, Gazzard GM, Koh D, Widaja D, Tan DT (2003) Causes of low vision and blindness in rural Indonesia. Br J Ophthalmol 87:1075–1078

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Isipradit S, Sirimaharaj M, Charukanmnoetkanok P, Thonginnetra O, Wongsawad W, Sathornsumette B, Somboonthanakij S, Soomsawasdi P, Jitawatanarat U, Taweebanjongsin W, Arayangkoon E, Arame P, Kobkoonthon C, Pangputhipong P (2014) The first rapid of assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) in Thailand. PLoS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114245

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Jonas JB, George R, Ashokan R, Flaxman SR, Keeffe J, Leasher J, Naidoo K, Pesudovs K, Price H, Vijaya L, White RA, Wong TY, Resnikoff S, Taylor HR, Bourne RR, on behalf of the Vision Loss expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study (2014) Prevalence and causes of vision loss in Central and South Asia 1999-2010. Br J Ophthalmol 98:592–598

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Keeffe J, Taylor HR, Fotis K, Pesudovs K, Flaxman SR, Jonas JB, Leasher J, Naidoo K, Price H, White RA, Wong TY, Resnikoff S, Bourne RRA, on behalf of the Vision Loss expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study (2014) Prevalence and causes of vision loss in South East Asia and Ocenia 1999–2010. Br J Ophthalmol 98:586–591

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Thappa SS, Berg RVD, Khanal S, Paudyal I, Pandey P, Mahajan N, Twyana SN, Paudyal G, Gurung R, Ruit S, Rens GHMBV (2011) Prevalence of visual impairment, cataract surgery and awareness of cataract and glaucoma in Bhaktapur district of Nepal, the Bhaktapur glaucoma study. BMC Ophthalmol 11:2. doi:10.1186/1471-2415-11-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ramke J, Brian G, Naduvilath T (2012) Refractive error and presbyopia in Timor-Leste: rhe impact of five years of a national spectacle program. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53:434–449

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Maramulla S, Keeffe JE, Rao GN (2009) Uncorrected refractive errors, presbyopia, and spectacle coverage: results from a rapid assessment of refractive error survey. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 16:269–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Bourne RR, Dineen BP, Huq DM, Ali SM, Johnsoin GJ (2004) Correction of refractive error in the adult population of Bangladesh: meeting the unmet need. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:410–417

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Joseph S, Ravilla T, Bassett K (2013) Gender issues in a cataract surgical population in South India. Ophthalmic Epedimilol 20:96–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Dorairaj SK, Bandakalli P, Shetty C, Vathsala R, Misquith D, Ritch R (2008) Childhood blindness in a rural population of southern India: prevalence and etiology. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 15:176–182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Nirmalan PK, Vijayalakshmi P, Sheeladevi S, Kothari MB, Sundaresan K, Rahmathullah L (2003) The Kariapatti pediatric eye evaluation project: baseline ophthalmic data of children aged 15 years or younger in southern India. Am J Ophthalmol 136:703–709

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bhattacharjee H, Das K, Borah RR, Guha K, Gogate P, Purukayastha S, Gilbert C (2008) Causes of childhood blindness in the north eastern states of India. Indian J Ophthalmol 56:495–499

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Gogate P, Despande M, Sudrik S, Taras S, Kishore H, Gilbert C (2007) Changing pattern of childhood blindness in Maharashtra. Br J Ophthalmol 91:8–12

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gao Z, Muecke J, Edussuriya K, Dayawansa R, Hammerton M, Kong A, Sennanayaeke S, Senaratne T, Marasinghe N, Selva D (2011) A survey of severe visual impairment and blindness in children attending thirteen schools for blind in Sri Lanka. Ophthalmic Epidemiolol 18:36–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sitorus RS, Abidin MS, Prihartono J (2007) Causes and temporal trends of childhood blindness in Indonesia: study at schools for the blind in Java. Br J Ophthalmol 91:1109–1113

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Titiyal JS, Pal N, Murthy GVS, Guota SK, Tandon R, Vajpayee RB, Gilbert CE (2003) Causes and temporal trends of blindness and severe visual impairment in children in schools for the blind in North India. Br J Ophthalmol 87:941–945

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Muecke J, Hammerton M, Aung YY, Warriers S, Kong A, Morse A, Holmes M, Yapp M, Hamilton C, Selva D (2009) A survey of visual impairment and blindness in children attending seven schools for blind in Myanmar. Ophthalmic Epidemilol 16:370–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Murthy GVS, Guta SK, Ellwein LB, Munoz SR, Pokharel GP, Sanga L, Bachani D (2002) Refractive error in children in an urban population in New Delhi. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:623–631

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Dandona R, Dandona L, Srinivas M, Sahare P, Narasaiah S, Munoz SR, Pokharel GP, Ellwein LB (2002) Refractive error in children in a rural population in India. Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 43:615–622

    Google Scholar 

  32. Dandona L, Dandona R, Naduvilath TJ, NcCarty CA, Nanda A, Srinivas M, Mandal P, Rao GN (1998) Is current eye-care-policy focus almost exclusively on cataract adequate to deal with blindness in India? Lancet 351:1312–1316

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Murthy GV, Gupta SK, Bachani D, Tewari HK, John N (2004) Human resources and infrastructure for eye care in India. Natl Med J India 17:128–134

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. World Health Orgainzation (2002) Mid level ophthalmic personnel in South East Asia. SEA-Ophthal-124. WHO New Delhi 2002, pp 1–35

  35. Nirmalan PK, Katz J, Robin AL, Krishnadas R, Ramakrishnan R, Thulasiraj RD, Tielsch J (2004) Utilization of eye care services in rural south India: the Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey. Br J Ophthalmol 88:1237–1241

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Ramasamy D, Josepha S, Valagurua V, Mittab VP, Ravillaa TD, Cotchc MF (2013) Cluster randomized trial to compare spectacle delivery systems at outreach eye camps in South India. Ophthalmic Epidemiolol 20:308–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Kovai V, Rao GN, Holden B, Krishnaiah S, Bhattacharya SK, Maramulla S, Khanna R (2010) An estimate of patient costs and benefits of the new primary eye care model utilization through vision centres in Andhra Pradesh. Asia Pac J Public Health 22:426–435

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Rao GN, Khanna RC, Athota SM, Rajshekar V, Rani PK (2012) Integrated model of primary and secondary eye care for underserved rural areas: L V Prasad Eye Institute experience. Indian J Ophthalmol 60:351–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Khanna R, Raman U, Rao GN (2007) Blindness and poverty in India: the way forward. ClinExptOptom 90:406–414

    Google Scholar 

  40. Rao GN (2015) The Barrie Jones Lecture—Eye care for the neglected population: challenges and solutions. Eye 29:30–45

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The study was funded by the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) 2014.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. L V Prasad Eye Institute, Road #2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, 500 034, India

    Taraprasad Das & Gullapalli N. Rao

  2. International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, London, UK

    Peter Ackland

  3. IAPB Country Chair, Dili, Timor-Leste

    Marcelino Correia

  4. IAPB Country Chair, Bangkok, Thailand

    Prut Hanutsaha

  5. IAPB Country Chair, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Palitha Mahipala

  6. VISION 2020 India, New Delhi, India

    Phanindra B. Nukella

  7. IAPB Country Chair, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Gopal P. Pokharel

  8. IAPB Country Chair, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Abu Raihan

  9. Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, India

    Thulasiraj D. Ravilla

  10. IAPB Southeast Asia Region, Hyderabad, India

    Taraprasad Das & Yudha D. Sapkota

  11. IAPB Country Chair, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Gilbert Simanjuntak

  12. IAPB Country Chair, Thimpu, Bhutan

    Ngwang Tenzin

  13. IAPB Country Chair, Male, Maldives

    Ubeydulla Thoufeeq

  14. IAPB Country Chair, Yangoon, Myanmar

    Tin Win

Authors
  1. Taraprasad Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Ackland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcelino Correia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Prut Hanutsaha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Palitha Mahipala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Phanindra B. Nukella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Gopal P. Pokharel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Abu Raihan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Gullapalli N. Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Thulasiraj D. Ravilla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Yudha D. Sapkota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Gilbert Simanjuntak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Ngwang Tenzin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Ubeydulla Thoufeeq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Tin Win
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

the IAPB South East Asia Region Eye Health Study Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taraprasad Das.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Das, T., Ackland, P., Correia, M. et al. Is the 2015 eye care service delivery profile in Southeast Asia closer to universal eye health need!. Int Ophthalmol 38, 469–480 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-017-0481-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-017-0481-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation