The Need

Cataract Blindness

• There are 37 million blind people in the world.
• 90 percent live in developing countries.
• 80 percent have treatable or preventable blindness.
• Over half of all this blindness is caused by cataracts.

What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that can cause vision problems.  The most common type of cataract is related to aging. In its early stages, this cloudiness may only affect a small part of the lens. However, over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, preventing light from reaching the retina. As a result, vision can become dull and blurry.

Can it be cured?
Yes. The vision impairment caused by cataracts is easily cured. For an early cataract, vision may improve by using different eye-glasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting. If these measures do not help, surgery can be preformed to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a substitute, intraocular lens (IOL).  An IOL is a clear, artificial lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of the eye. Patients do not feel or see the lens, but it improves their vision by allowing light to reach the retina again.

What procedures are used to remove cataracts?
The Phacoemulsification Technique or Extracapsular Surgery can remove cataracts.  Phacoemulsifcation is the technique typically used today.  It involves using ultrasound waves to break up the cloudy lens and suction to remove it.  Extracapsular surgery involves a longer incision in the retina and removal of the hard center of the lens without the ultrasound waves.  Suction is then used to remove the remainder of the lens.

Sometimes, a cataract should be removed even if it doesn't cause problems with a patient's vision. For example, a cataract should be removed if it prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children below the age of five. According to the WHO, an estimated 250 million preschool age children are vitamin A deficient. An estimated 250,000 – 500,000 vitamin A deficient children go blind each year; half of them die within 12 months of losing their sight.  

What does vitamin A deficiency do?
As vitamin A is essential to the support of the immune system, a deficiency increases the risk of disease and death. Even before blindness occurs, vitamin A deficient children are at risk of dying from such conditions as, premature birth, measles, congenital rubella syndrome, malaria and meningitis.  For those children who do survive, blindness affects their development, education and productivity.

What causes vitamin A deficiency?
The primary cause of Vitamin A deficiency is chronic malnutrition.  This is usually due to a lack of red, green, yellow and orange leafy fruits and vegetables in the diet.  The children affected are also often at risk to poverty and illiteracy, preventing them from receiving proper education about this disease. 

How can the deficiency be prevented/treated?
Almost half of all blindness in children is avoidable. Most cases can be prevented or treated by inexpensive interventions, such as vitamin A boosters, cataract surgery and/or schoolhouse malnutrition screening programs.

The Combat Blindness Foundation recognizes this need and is offering support to the Children’s Malnutrition Program in Gujarat, India. 

The foundation works in partnership with programs already established in the area, providing education and screening to prevent childhood blindness.  In 2009, CBF hopes to screen 7,000 children under the age of six years for Vitamin A deficiency. 

 Visit the Ways to Give page to find out how you can help eradicate childhood blindness.