Corneal Blindness

Watanee T. Jenchitr, M.D.
Department of Ophthalmology, Lampang Hospital

ABSTRACT The Thai prevention of blindness programme was set up 1978. In 1987 the second survey of eye disease and blindness revealed that corneal blindness was 4.6% and increased to 8.25% if trachoma was included. Infection, malnutrition and trauma are common causes.

The Ministry of Public Health has the prevention plan of corneal blindness by putting eye care programme in the sixth national health development plan which become part of the non-communicable disease control, promoting primary level health education by integrating primary eye care into primary health care programme and training of community health worker. Identification and refer were instructed. Infrastructdure of manpower and equipment were developed. Strengthening eye care at intermediary (provincial) level was done. Eye banks were tried to set up in every region of Thailand with close cooperation from the Thai Red Cross Eye Bank.

Thai J Ophthalmol 1990; July - Dec 4 (2): 155-161