DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i04.043

Pages: 1361-1366

Cataract is a major cause of blindness and severe visual impairment in India. For controlling cataract blindness and effective implementation of program there is need of data on blindness and cataract blindness in each district. Hence in this study prevalence of cataract and cataract related blindness and the coverage of cataract surgery was studied in Wardha district. All the 5263 persons of above 50 years of age were screened and examined at their door steps with Snellen’s chart with available correction. Out of these only 1104 persons (those who had undergone cataract surgery and having visual acuity <6/60) were taken up for interview and complete ocular examination. In this study it was found that social blindness was significantly more common in females. Prevalence of economic blindness was found to increase with increase in the age of persons examined. Based on visual acuity <6/60 in persons more than 50 years of age prevalence of cataract was found to be 7.39%. Prevalence of cataract blindness was found to be significantly more in females and the cataract surgical coverage was 59% for persons.