ADDRESSING AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS: THE ROLE OF PUBLIC HEALTH OPHTHALMOLOGY IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS.

Abstract

Avoidable blindness and visual impairment disproportionately affect populations in low-resource settings, posing a significant public health challenge that perpetuates poverty and reduces quality of life. An estimated 75% of global blindness is preventable or treatable, yet access to effective eye care remains severely limited in many regions. This abstract explores the critical role of public health ophthalmology in designing, implementing, and sustaining interventions to address this inequity. Public health ophthalmology moves beyond individual clinical care to focus on population-level strategies. Key interventions include: comprehensive eye health programs integrated into primary healthcare; active case finding and outreach initiatives; surgical camps for high-volume procedures like cataract removal; and the equitable distribution of trained personnel and essential technologies. Challenges in low-resource settings—such as insufficient infrastructure, limited workforce, financial barriers, and geographical isolation—necessitate context-specific, community-based approaches. This field emphasizes prevention, early detection, cost-effective treatment, and rehabilitation, all within a framework of sustainable health systems strengthening. By prioritizing accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate eye care, public health ophthalmology can significantly reduce the burden of avoidable blindness, improve societal productivity, and contribute directly to universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals, fostering a more equitable visual future.