VISION 2020: The Right to Sight
Public Health Ophthalmology: Global Initiative
1. Overview
A global joint initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) was launched to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.
2. Target Diseases (Priority Areas)
| Disease | Public Health Focus |
|---|---|
| Cataract | Primary cause of global blindness: surgical coverage. |
| Trachoma | SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement). |
| Onchocerciasis | Vector control and Ivermectin distribution. |
| Childhood Blindness | Vitamin A deficiency, congenital cataract, and retinopathy of prematurity. |
| Refractive Errors | Correction of presbyopia and myopia/hypermetropia. |
3. Three Pillars of Implementation
- Disease Control: Specific interventions for targeted conditions.
- Human Resource Development: Training eye care personnel (ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses).
- Infrastructure/Technology: Equipping eye care facilities.
4. NEET PG High-Yield Pearls
- Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR): Defined as the number of cataract surgeries performed per million population per year—a key metric for VISION 2020 success.
- Trachoma: Remember the SAFE strategy; it is a favorite for community medicine/ophthalmology exam questions.
- Need comprehensive study materials? For high-yield question banks and free medical resources, you can always visit mymedschool.org.