| Strategic issues in preventing cataract blindness in developing countries. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 8846495 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Cataract blindness is a public health problem of major proportions in developing countries. Intracapsular cataract extraction with aphakic spectacles has been the standard surgical technique for restoring sight. Because of image magnification in the operated eye, however, the result in unilaterally blind patients is less than satisfactory. Fortunately, with the availability of low-cost intraocular lenses (IOL) and ophthalmologists trained in extracapsular surgery, it is now practical to intervene successfully in the unilateral case. The need for increased attention on the quality of the visual high prevalence of cataract blindness in developing countries and an increasing cataract incidence due to an aging population require substantial increases in surgical volume. The third issue relates to cost. If significant increases in surgical volume and quality of outcomes are to be realized without an increased need for external funding, service delivery must be made more efficient. The expansion of IOL surgery for unilateral blindness is a favourable trend in ensuring financial sustainability of delivery systems; patients can be operated on while still economically productive and able to pay rather than waiting for bilateral blindness and a less favourable economic and social impact. If the quality, volume, and cost issues are to be successfully addressed, operational and structural changes to eye care delivery systems are necessary. These changes can be effected through training, technology introduction, management of facilities, social marketing, organizational partnerships, and evaluation. With improved understanding of the critical factors in successful models their widespread replication will be facilitated. |
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Authors:
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L B Ellwein; C Kupfer |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Bulletin of the World Health Organization Volume: 73 ISSN: 0042-9686 ISO Abbreviation: Bull. World Health Organ. Publication Date: 1995 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1996-10-24 Completed Date: 1996-10-24 Revised Date: 2009-11-18 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7507052 Medline TA: Bull World Health Organ Country: SWITZERLAND |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 681-90 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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National Eye Institute (NEI), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Blindness
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epidemiology,
etiology,
prevention & control* Cataract / complications*, epidemiology Cataract Extraction* / economics Cost-Benefit Analysis Developing Countries* Humans Incidence Prevalence Public Health |
| Comments/Corrections | |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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