Gujarat Targets Lower Blindness Rate To 0.20% By 2030, 1.86 Lakh People Currently Affected
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Gujarat has set a target to reduce its blindness rate from 0.25% to 0.20% by 2030, with approximately 1.86 lakh people in the state currently living with visual impairment, according to the state Health Department. The government plans to strengthen eye screening in rural and urban areas to detect vision problems early and ensure timely treatment.
Gujarat Sees Decline In Blindness Cases
Government survey data show a significant decline in the number of visually impaired people in Gujarat over the past two decades. The state recorded 5.41 lakh people with visual impairment in 2001-02, which fell to 2.14 lakh in 2011. The current estimate stands at approximately 1.86 lakh.
The government aims to bring the blindness rate down to 0.20% within the next four years as part of its efforts to improve eye health services.
Health Department Urges Regular Eye Check-Ups After 40
On the occasion of World Sight Day, observed on October 8, the Health Department stressed the need for regular eye examinations, particularly among people aged over 40.
The risk of age-related eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma, increases with age. Timely screening can help identify these conditions and enable patients to receive appropriate treatment.
The department said a three-tier screening process would be implemented across rural and urban areas to identify vision defects at an early stage. Patients requiring further care would be referred for appropriate treatment.
Children Advised To Follow The 20-20-20 Rule
With increased screen use in the digital age, vision-related problems among children have also become a growing concern. Eye care experts recommend following the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain associated with prolonged screen time.
Under the rule, people should look at an object around 20 feet away for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of screen use.
The Health Department’s focus on early detection, regular eye check-ups and timely treatment is aimed at reducing preventable vision loss and achieving Gujarat’s blindness reduction target by 2030.
