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Delhi's Vision Crisis: 60 Lakh Face Eye Problems
9 Mar
Summary
- Nearly 60 lakh people in Delhi have refractive errors or presbyopia.
- Myopia affects 13.1 percent of school-going children in the capital.
- While ophthalmologists are sufficient, there's a shortage of technicians.
A recent review by the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS, Delhi, highlights a substantial burden of uncorrected refractive errors in the national capital. Approximately 29.5 percent of Delhi's population, equating to nearly 60 lakh individuals, suffer from refractive error or presbyopia, with the prevalence being highest among those aged 50 and above.
Myopia remains the predominant refractive error among school-going children, affecting 13.1 percent. Current coverage for refractive error services in 2024 stands at 59.8 percent for distance vision and 47.1 percent for near vision, with women experiencing lower coverage than men. The assessment noted a significant number of private eye care institutes, alongside public and NGO-run facilities.
Delhi has an adequate number of ophthalmologists, but a critical shortage of ophthalmic technicians, essential for refraction services, has been identified. The city operates 249 eye care institutes, predominantly private. Efforts to bridge service gaps include training ASHA workers to identify visual impairments, as demonstrated by a recent camp in east Delhi.
The capital demonstrates strong political and financial commitment to refractive error services, utilizing a multi-tiered delivery model that includes outreach programs and community health workers, supported by initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission.
