Primary Eye Care and Community Participation. Dr. Saman Wimalasundera MBBS, DO, PhD Senior lecturer in community medicine & community ophthalmologist Community Ophthalmology center Department of community medicine P.O.Box 70, Galle Sri Lanka. Primary eye care and community participation.
Dr. Saman Wimalasundera MBBS, DO, PhD
Senior lecturer in community medicine
& community ophthalmologist
Community Ophthalmology center
Department of community medicine
Delivery of primary eye care has its specific roles and targets in the community and good community participation is an essential component in the successful prevention of blindness program.
Primary eye care is the primary health care approach to the prevention of blindness.
1.Creating and awareness of the blinding diseases existing in the community and the ways of preventing or curing it.
2.How to use the available recourses to overcome the problems.
1.Motivation of individuals and their
communities to participate in blindness
2.Social and community development that promotes health
3.Change of behavior and environment
construction of latrines &refuse pits
diarrhea in children
1. To carry out treatment procedures for simple common diseases that lead to blindness or impaired vision if not treated
e.g. corneal ulcers, refractive errors etc.
2. First aid treatment for eye injuries.
3.Timely referral to secondary level.
4.Identification of potentially blinding disease
conditions for proper management
5.Identification of curable blinding diseases
e.g.cataract and referral for treatment
Target group: Incurably blind people
What can the primary eye care workers
do to them ?
They should be assured that they are not
A good primary Eye care Program will depend on :
and available resources
1. Need assessment Programs
2. Screening for blinding diseases
3. Comprehensive care Eye camps
4. Out reach Surgical Camps
5. Health Education Programs
Depend on the following areas
In 1986 an international conference
called Ottawa charter adopts five principal
elements that improve health promotion.
Community participation is a major
emphasis in eye health promotion.
The promotion of eye health and to used in the community
reduce the risk of blindness though
community ophthalmology needs good
- Mass media programs
- Through volunteers or community health workers by small group discussions
- Through community leaders
- Self help groups
- Improving education of children through schools
There is a high demand for a used in the community
community based approach in the
prevention of blindness. That needs
proper community participation.