Visual impairment in South Africa: achieve-ments and challenges
African Vision and Eye Health
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Visual impairment in South Africa: achieve-ments and challenges | |
| Creator | Sacharowitz, H.S. | |
| Description | Estimates of the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in South Africa are reviewed against the existing services and limitations in the country. The magnitude1 of visual impair-ment and the projected increase worldwide over the coming decades have been recognized as having potentially far-reaching social, eco-nomic and quality of life implications for not only the affected individuals but also for their families and communities. Two-thirds or more of all blindness is avoidable, in that the causes are preventable or treatable.2, 3 Early detec-tion, prevention and management programs are needed to reduce the impact of visual impair-ment. Approximately 80% of the South African population is indigent, relying on public hospi-tals and clinics and the remaining 20% of the population has access to private health care.4 As the majority of eye care professionals are in private practice, access to eye care services are available to only a minority of the population. This paper reviews the current services in South Africa and the challenges that lie ahead. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2005-12-19 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/aveh.v64i4.239 | |
| Source | African Vision and Eye Health; South African Optometrist: Vol 64, No 4 (2005); 139-149 2410-1516 2413-3183 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/239/206
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