One million in Sri Lanka suffer from blindness
Posted on October 9th, 2018
Courtesy Bernama.com
COLOMBO, Oct 9 (Bernama) — Nearly a million in Sri Lanka, out of its 21 million population, suffer from blindness or from conditions that could lead to blindness due to an increase in the number of cataract patients, local media reported on Tuesday.
To commemorate the World Sight Day 2018 which falls on Oct 11, the health ministry said one of the major causes of cataract was diabetes while school children who suffered from obesity were also vulnerable to cataract or other vision impairment diseases later in life.According to Xinhua news agency, Health Services Director-General, Dr Anil Jasinghe disclosed that over 285 million people suffered from optical issues worldwide and over 90 per cent of them were from low or middle income countries.
He said cataract was the main cause for blindness in Asia and Africa.
Dr Jasinghe said Sri Lanka would soon amend its Vision 2020 programme to meet the rising demand for eye care in the island….