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To report eye examinations findings and cost-efficiency of mobile eye and vision care screening in underserved areas in north India. The Aloka Vision Program combines optometrical and ophthalmological screening as mobile eye camps with organized referrals to local eye hospitals. 402 people from urban (N = 191) and rural (N = 211) areas in the distr...
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Purpose. To further determine the roles of environmental and genetic factors in the development of myopia, a comprehensive survey was performed. The guidance for myopia-susceptible people is established which might help prevent or delay the onset and development of myopia. Methods. 1,852 students were recruited using the multistage sampling approac...
Citations
... A quality-assured mobile eye service is known to enhance eye care uptake across many economically less-privileged regions of the world. [16,17] Also, one could improve eye care services using advanced technology. [18] But these measures do not necessarily improve the health-seeking behavior of people. ...
Purpose:
To examine the eye care practice in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Methods:
This study consisted of primary and secondary research conducted in five zones of MMR. The primary research included interviews with the patients, eye care providers, and key opinion leaders. The secondary research included analyzing data from the professional ophthalmology societies, public health domain, and health insurance providers. We divided people into three economic classes by annual income - low (<INR 0.3 m), middle (INR 0.31-1.8 m), and high (>1.8 m). We analyzed the collected data to estimate the eye care demand-supply, quality of eye care, health-seeking behavior, gap in eye care delivery, and eye care expenditure.
Results:
We examined 473 key eye care facilities and interviewed 513 people. The ophthalmologist density in MMR was 80/million, and it was the highest in North MMR. Most ophthalmologists visited several facilities. Cataract surgery and glaucoma care coverage were better than other specialties; it was poor for oncology and oculoplastic services. Annual eye examination practice was poor in the low- and middle-income groups than in the high-income group (48%-50% vs. 85%). Most people preferred visiting eye care facilities within 5 km of their residence. Out-of-pocket spending was between 60% and 83%. Lower-income group people preferred public facilities.
Conclusion:
MMR eye care needs further improvement in affordable and accessible eye care, health literacy, public health surveillance, research into the application of newer technologies to provide less-expensive home care for the elderly and minimize their hospital visits, and collection and analysis of big data to address city-specific eye health issues.
