More schoolchildren with eye defects now

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Four per cent of schoolchildren in Sri Lanka suffer from some kind of eye defect, Deputy Director General, Public Health Dr. Palitha Maheepala said.

There are over 400,000 schoolchildren in Sri Lanka and 150,000 suffer from different types of visual defects, he said. Dr.Maheepala said that avoidable blindness can be treated well and it is possible to save the eye sight in most cases.

Schoolchildren from all social classes suffer from visual defects and it is impossible to point out an exact reason for this condition. Both malnourished children from destitute families and over weight children from affluent families have eye problems.

The visual problems among schoolchildren are on the rise. Sri Lanka commenced the Vision 2020 program in 2000 to upgrade eye care facilities countrywide and a five year plan was formulated.

It is also expected to distribute 160, 000 spectacles for schoolchildren who have vision difficulties.

Under this program, spectacles have already been provided to nearly 1,000 schoolchildren countrywide since the commencement of the program in December last year.