Blindness is a lack of vision. It may also refer to a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Partial blindness means you have very limited vision. Complete blindness means you cannot see anything and do not see light. (Most people who use the term "blindness" mean complete blindness.

1. DR.ANJALATCHI MUTHUKUMARAN
VICE PRINCIPAL
ERA COLLEGE OF NURSING
National Programme for Control of
Blindness and Visual Impairment
(NPCB&VI)

2. Introduction
 National Programme for Control of Blindness and
Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI) was launched in
the year 1976 as a 100% centrally sponsored
scheme (now 60:40 in all states and 90:10 in NE
States) with the goal of reducing the prevalence
of blindness to 0.3% by 2020. Rapid Survey on
Avoidable Blindness conducted under NPCB
during 2006-07 showed reduction in the
prevalence of blindness from 1.1% (2001-02) to
1% (2006-07).

3. Prevalence rate of blindness and
targets
 Prevalence of Blindness - 1.1%. (Survey 2001-
02 ).
 Prevalence of Blindness - 1. %. (Survey 2006-
07).
 Current Survey (2015-18) in progress. The
projected rate of prevalence of blindness is
0.45%.
 Prevalence of Blindness target - 0.3% (by the
year 2020).

4. Main Causes of blindness
 Cataract (62.6%)
Refractive Error (19.70%)
Corneal Blindness (0.90%),
Glaucoma (5.80%),
Surgical Complication (1.20%)
Posterior Capsular Opacification (0.90%)
 Posterior Segment Disorder (4.70%),
Others (4.19%)
 Estimated National Prevalence of Childhood
Blindness /Low Vision is 0.80 per thousand.

5. Main objectives
 To reduce the backlog of avoidable blindness
through identification and treatment of curable
blind at primary, secondary and tertiary levels,
based on assessment of the overall burden of
visual impairment in the country;
 Develop and strengthen the strategy of NPCB for
“Eye Health for All” and prevention of visual
impairment; through provision of comprehensive
universal eye-care services and quality service
delivery;

6. continued
 Strengthening and up-gradation of Regional
Institutes of Ophthalmology (RIOs) to become
centre of excellence in various sub-specialities of
ophthalmology and also other partners like
Medical College, District Hospitals, Sub-district
Hospitals, Vision Centres, NGO Eye Hospitals;

7. Continued
 Strengthening the existing infrastructure facilities
and developing additional human resources for
providing high quality comprehensive Eye
Care in all Districts of the country;
 · To enhance community awareness on eye
care and lay stress on preventive measures;
 · Increase and expand research for
prevention of blindness and visual impairment;
 · To secure participation of Voluntary
Organizations/Private Practitioners in delivering
eye Care.


8. Targets and achievements during
last 3 Years and Current Year.
 Cataract operations 2017-18*
 Target:66,00,000
 Performed :15,91,977

9. School Eye Screening Program
year-2017-18
 No. of Children Screened for Refractive Error-
27,37,502
 No. of Children found with Refractive Errors-
1,00,352
 No. of free spectacles provided to
school children suffering from refractive errors
 Target-9,00,000
 Achievement*-47,184

10.  Year -2017-18
 Target-72,000
 Achievement-1,47048
Collection of donated Eyes for corneal
transplantation
 Year- 2017-18*
 Target -50,000
 Achievement-18,519
Treatment/management of other eye diseases
(Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, childhood
blindness, keratoplasty etc.)

11. Best practices adopted under the
program:
 To reach every nook and corner of the country to
provide eye-care services, provision for setting up
Multipurpose District Mobile Ophthalmic Units in
the District Hospitals of States/UTs as a new
initiative under the program.
 Few states have set up these Units. There is a
need to replicate the same by other States.
 ·Provision for distribution of free spectacles to old
persons suffering from presbyopia to enable them
for undertaking near work as a new initiative
under the program.
 The activity needs to be expedited in the all the
States.

12. Continued
 Emphasis on the comprehensive eye-care
coverage by covering diseases other than
cataract like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma,
corneal transplantation, vitreo-retinal surgery,
treatment of childhood blindness including
retinopathy of pre-maturity (ROP) etc. These
emerging diseases need immediate attention to
eliminate avoidable blindness from the Country;

13. Strengthening of Tertiary
 Eye-Care Centres by providing funds for purchase of
sophisticated modern ophthalmic equipments.
 Ensure setting up of superspecialty clinics for all
major eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy,
glaucoma, retinopathy of prematurity etc. in state level
hospitals and medical colleges all over the country.
 Linkage of tele-ophthalmology centres at PHC/Vision
centres with superspecialty eye hospitals to ensure
delivery of best possible diagnosis and treatment for
eye diseases, specially in hilly terrains and difficult
areas.
 Development of a network of eye banks and eye
donation centres linked with medical colleges and
RIOs to promote collection and timely utilization of
donated eyes in a transparent manner.

14. Future plan
 Setting up of more PHC/Vision Centres to
broaden access of people to eye care facilities.
 To extend financial support to NGOs for treatment
of other eye diseases like Diabetic Retinopathy,
Glaucoma Management, Laser Techniques,
Corneal Transplantation, Vitreoretinal Surgery,
Treatment of Childhood Blindness, free of cost to
poor people.
 Integration of existing ophthalmic surgical/ non-
surgical facilities in each district, State by
associating few units to next higher unit.

15. Continued
 Inclusion of modern ophthalmic equipment in eye
care facilities to make it more versatile to meet
modern day requirement.
 Upgradation of software for Management
Information System for better implementation
and monitoring and monitoring.
 Digitalization of eye care services – IEC
messages, whats app. Groups for stakeholders
etc.
 Provision for setting up Multipurpose District
Mobile Ophthalmic Units in District Hospitals for
better coverage.

16. National Programme for Control of
Blindness
 Goals & Objectives of NPCB in the XII Plan
 Goals
 Objectives
 Strategies to achieve the objectives
 Main causes of blindness

17. Introduction
 National Program for Control of Blindness was
launched in the year 1976 as a 100% Centrally
Sponsored scheme with the goal to reduce the
prevalence of blindness from 1.4% to 0.3%. As per
Survey in 2001-02, prevalence of blindness is
estimated to be 1.1%. Rapid Survey on Avoidable
Blindness conducted under NPCB during 2006-07
showed reduction in the prevalence of blindness from
1.1% (2001-02) to 1% (2006-07). Various
activities/initiatives undertaken during the Five Year
Plans under NPCB are targeted towards achieving
the goal of reducing the prevalence of blindness to
0.3% by the year 2020.

18. Goals & Objectives of NPCB in the
XII Plan
Goals
 To reduce the prevalence of blindness (1.49% in
1986-89) to less than 0.3%
 To establish an infrastructure and efficiency levels
in the programme to be able to cater new cases
of blindness each year to prevent future backlog.


19. Objectives
 To reduce the backlog of blindness through identification and
treatment of blind at primary, secondary and tertiary levels based
on assessment of the overall burden of visual impairment in the
country.
 Develop and strengthen the strategy of NPCB for "Eye Health"
and prevention of visual impairment; through provision of
comprehensive eye care services and quality service delivery.
 Strengthening and up gradation of RIOS to become centre of
excellence in various sub-specialties of ophthalmology
 Strengthening the existing and developing additional human
resources and infrastructure facilities for providing high quality
comprehensive Eye Care in all Districts of the country;
 To enhance community awareness on eye care and lay stress on
preventive measures;
 Increase and expand research for prevention of blindness and
visual impairment
 To secure participation of Voluntary Organizations/Private
Practitioners in eye Care.


20. Strategies to achieve the objectives
 Decentralized implementation of the scheme through District
Health Societies (NPCB)
 Reduction in the backlog of blind persons by active screening of
population above 50 years, organising screening eye camps and
transporting operable cases to eye care facilities
 Development of eye care services and improvement in quality of
eye care by training of personnel, supply of high-tech ophthalmic
equipment, strengthening follow up services and regular
monitoring of services;
 Screening of school age group (Primary &Secondary) children
for identification and treatment of Refractive Errors, with special
attention in under-served areas;
 Public awareness about prevention and timely treatment of eye
ailments;
 Special focus on illiterate women in rural areas. For this purpose,
there should be convergence with various ongoing schemes for
development of women and children;

21. Continued
 To make eye care comprehensive, besides
cataract surgery, provision of assistance for other
eye diseases like Diabetic Retinopathy,
Glaucoma Management, Laser Techniques,
Corneal Transplantation, Vitreoretinal Surgery,
Treatment of Childhood Blindness etc.;
 Construction of dedicated Eye Wards and Eye
OTs in District Hospitals in NE States and few
other States as per need;
 Development of Mobile Ophthalmic Units
[renamed as Multipurpose District Mobile
Ophthalmic Units (MDMOU)] in the district level
for patient screening & transportation of patients;

22. Continued
 Continuing emphasis on Primary Healthcare (eye
care) by establishing Vision centers in all PHCs
with a PMOA in position.
 Participation of community and Panchayat Raj
institutions in organizing services in rural areas;
 Involvement of Private Practitioners in the
programme.


23. Reference
 Source: National Health Portal
 National program for control of
blindnessvikaspedia
 NPCB in ministry of health and family welfare
.website

24. Thanking you