Burden of corneal blindness in India

Background: Corneal blindness is a major form of visual impairment in developing countries and has been recognized as an important public health problem. There is limited population based data on the magnitude and causes of corneal blindness and morbidity in our country. Methods: An extensive search was performed to locate papers on the subject published 1991 onwards up to the present. Hand search of cross references was also done along with consultation with experts in order to enlarge the reference base. Results: Seven population based studies on blindness from various parts of the country, were found suitable for meta-analysis. The true prevalence of corneal blindness in people aged 50 years and above for each study was calculated from the reported prevalence. The true prevalence of corneal blindness in the adult Indian population is 4.5 per 1000 (95% CI: 2.7-6.4). The causes of corneal morbidity leading to corneal scarring and, eventually, blindness were also extensively studied.Conclusion: The present paper highlights that there is a significant burden of corneal blindness in the adult Indian population. As the majority of the ocular diseases leading to corneal blindness are avoidable, appropriate public education, health promotion measures, prompt treatment for corneal trauma and infections can be an effective strategy against corneal blindness.