Four percent of children suffer from refractive eye disorder

KATHMANDU, June 21: Four percent of the 800,000 children who benefitted from the free eye check-up through the Nepal Reach Project were found to be suffering from refractive visual disorder.

A total of 785,460 children of Jhapa, Morang, Parsa, Sunsari and Siraha districts received free eye check-up facility under the project implemented by Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh in support of Orbis International from 2018 to 2022. 

The NGO dedicated to service in the sphere of eye care service, Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, and an international NGO dedicated to saving sight worldwide, Orbis International, launched the project in 2,555 public and private schools across the country during the period. 

Among the beneficiaries of the free eye check-up facility, 20,380 children who were found with sight-related issues were provided with glasses. Similarly, a total of 201 availed of free eye surgeries, informed Programme Manager Ranjan Shah. 

The free eye check-up camps were organized coordinating efforts with the RM Kedia Eye Hospital, Sagarmatha Chaudhary Eye Hospital, Biratnagar Eye Hospital and Mechi Eye Hospital. 

Sangh's executive director Dr Shailesh Kumar Mishra shared that they had been conducting free eye check-up camps across the country in support of donor agencies so as to provide primary to comprehensive eye care services as well as to prevent and treat blindness.