Fighting for sight through community eye care in Southern Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Sight is a gift of nature for all li,,ing creatures including h Jmans. If sight is affected it will cause profound human and socio-economic consequences in all :,ocieties. The cost of lost productivity, rehabilitation and education of the blind is a significant economic burden particularly in many developing countries such as Sri Lanka. Above all it is an intense human suffering. fherefore prevention of blindness and care for the people with low vision, or fighting for sight can make enormous savings and facilitate societal developments as we! as reduction of human suffering. Furthermore, blindness is often associated with low life expectancy. Blindness can be eliminated from the face of the earth if people world wide have access to sight saving medical and surgical techniques, and if there is a proct:ss to improve primary eye care and eye health to prevent ocular conditions that lead to loss of sight.