Vision 2020 and the role of Optometry Practice in Nigeria- episode 2

Optom
Back in 15-18 January 1999 when Vision 2020 was launched, it was aimed @ reversing the roller-coaster drive of blindness Prevalence which was projected to rise up to 58 million in 2010 and 75 million in 2020. But the almighty question staring @ us, the estimated versus prevailing epidemiological data reality, begs for answers. I wish to draw us to events that finally culminated in formation of Vision 2020 Global initiative, also identified as Vision 2020: Right to Sight.
In 1972, the same year the globally accepted minimum definition of blindness as, " VA of <3/60 with a central visual field of <10 degrees" and as incorporated in the international classifications of diseases ninth revision (ICD-9), the estimated prevalence of blindness was between 10-15 million. This projected estimate was said to be an underestimation by epidemiologists and other experts. The need for a more epidemiological sound estimate of blindness and the need to look into causes of blindness and the myth gave birth to International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in 1975. It is an international umbrella body of governmental and non-governmental eye care providers whose aim is to prevent or treat causes of blindness.
 In that same year, 1975, WHO/ Prevention of Blindness/Blinding disease (WHO/PBL later WHO/PBD) was created as a partnership between world health organization (WHO) and IAPB and world donor groups. In 1979, the first epidemiologically sound estimate of Blindness prevalence based on ICD-9, from 60 distinct geographic areas, was 28.1 million blind as @ 1975. In 1987 the prevalence of blindness, based on ICD-9, was 31 million from 90 distinct geographical area @ 1984. In 1994, there was an estimated 37.9 million people blind @1990. As @ 2000 there was an estimated 45 million blind and the story continues... this seem to correlate with a projection made in 1975, that by 1990 the world prevalence of blindness will be 38 million, in 2000, 45 million people will be blind. If nothing is done, prevalence of blindness is expected to rise to 58 million in 2010 and record 75 million in 2020.
This worrying scenario is further aggravated by a lackadaisical approach towards the goals of achieving the mission statement of Vision 2020: Right to Sight, which has prevention, treatment and elimination of the various preventable causes of blindness as a core message. Another factor that keeps pandering the escalating proportion of prevalence of blindness and visual impairments, is the chronic and persistent professional in-fighting among the professional eye care providers. The Ophthalmologists, the Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and the Orthoptists are eye care professionals whose aim is to provide visual 'soundness' for the visually challenged.
Finally, in a subsequent blog, I am going to discuss the eye care professionals with emphasis on Optometry.
To be continued...
Dr Victor Okwudiri Ezebuiroh.