{"id":1067,"date":"2015-07-22T09:36:53","date_gmt":"2015-07-22T09:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/case-reports\/?p=1067"},"modified":"2015-07-22T09:36:53","modified_gmt":"2015-07-22T09:36:53","slug":"can-technology-help-reduce-childhood-blindness-in-developing-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/case-reports\/2015\/07\/22\/can-technology-help-reduce-childhood-blindness-in-developing-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"Can technology help reduce childhood blindness in developing countries?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Midhun Mohan<\/strong><\/p>\n

This case report outlines an extremely important treatable global health issue: childhood blindness.<\/p>\n

Access to essential paediatric eye surgery in the developing world: a case of congenital cataracts left untreated<\/a>
\nUntreated childhood cataracts remain prevalent especially in developing countries. They are a major health burden, not only affecting the individual’s quality of life but also predisposing the individual to becoming a financial burden for the country. This report is of a case of congenital cataracts in a young boy from the Philippines who was left blind since birth.
\nThe mother observed the boy\u2019s vision problems when she noted him bumping into things at the age of 1. When the boy was 2, the health care worker noted opacities on both lenses. The boy was seen at the rural health clinic at the age of 5 and diagnosed with bilateral congenital cataracts and referred to an opthamologist.
\nNote above the three year delay in getting the boy seen at the rural health clinic. This delay is likely due to:
\nThe poor education of the parents affecting their health seeking behaviours and thus not fully appreciating the seriousness of their child\u2019s condition
\nInadequate competency levels of the health care workers. This is could be due to a lack of proper training, which is likely to stem from a lack of funding<\/p>\n

Despite being diagnosed, the patient remained untreated for the next 7 years!
\nWhat was the reasoning behind such a long gap between diagnosis and treatment? There were two reasons:
\nThe family were not able to afford the treatment
\nThere was a lack of funding from the national health provider<\/p>\n

The patient was not able to attend follow up, and three months after surgery, the patient\u2019s visual acuity started to decrease.
\nThere are 3 main factors that that can result in good visual outcomes after cataract surgery:<\/p>\n