1. “We Can See!”
Children’s Vision Around the World
Dr. Ian Berger
Production by Vasu Mistry
I n t e r p r o f e s s io n a l F o s t e r i n g o f O p h t h a l m i c C a r e f o r U n d e r s e r v e d S e c t o r s
Corpus Christi, Texas

2. Vision 2020
The current World Health
Organization Global Initiative for the
elimination of avoidable blindness

3. For children, the prevalence of
blindness is 0.5 –1 per 1000
children, or one child aged 0 –
15 years goes blind every
minute

6. Vitamin A deficiency,
xerophthalmia, is worldwide
the most common cause of
childhood blindness

7. Xerophthalmia (Vitamin A Deficiency)

8. Vitamin A deficiency is also
associated with elevated
infant and childhood
mortality rates, especially
associated with measles

10. 60 – 80% of children who
become blind from Vitamin A
deficiency die within a few
years because of increased
disease susceptibility and
sometimes lack of care.

12. Newborn Conjunctivitis

13. Congenital Cataract

14. Child has tumors behind Retinoblastoma
lens of both eye (white
reflex).

15. Effects of traditional eye medicines

16. Traditional healers use herbal medicines, juice of
squeezed plant leaves, lime juice, kerosene,
toothpaste, breast milk and urine (either animal or
human). The child in the upper right photo suffers from
chemosis, a reaction to the traditional medicine.

17. Though not
Though not
blind, per
blind, per
se, some
se, some
180,000,000
180,000,000
children
children
around the
around the
world are in
world are in
need of
need of
vision
vision
correction,
correction,
that is,
that is,
need
need
eyeglasses.
eyeglasses.

18. Children’s
Children’s
visual
visual
disabilities
disabilities
seriously
seriously
hamper
hamper
their ability
their ability
to learn -- to
to learn -- to
read -- or
read -- or
to perform
to perform
physically,
physically,
e.g., to kick
e.g., to kick
or catch a
or catch a
ball.
ball.

19. Approximately one out of every ten
children need prescription eyewear, yet
in developing countries, especially in
rural areas, one rarely sees a child
wearing glasses, even in a relatively
large group. Both GEOGRAPHICAL
and FINANCIAL ACCESS to primary
vision and eye care for children are
limited for hundreds of millions of
children around the world.

25. Vision care personnel
Vision care personnel
shortages leave many
shortages leave many
children behind, unable to
children behind, unable to
attend school.
attend school.

26. Learning
Learning
may be
may be
inhibited in
inhibited in
both
both
parents and
parents and
children
children
when
when
neither
neither
have clear
have clear
vision!
vision!

27. The main objective for
The main objective for
children’s vision care,
children’s vision care,
however, is to enable
however, is to enable
children to see clearly, and
children to see clearly, and
that means dispensing
that means dispensing
eyeglasses to accurately
eyeglasses to accurately
correct errors of refraction
correct errors of refraction
(focusing light).
(focusing light).

28. Vision care begins with measuring visual acuity in each eye.

29. Near vision must also be assessed in order to
determine whether children can see up close to
read.

30. Refractive error correction can then be measured with a
FOCOMETER

31. The FOCOMETER is simple
The FOCOMETER is simple
to use, does not require
to use, does not require
electricity, and is locally
electricity, and is locally
affordable, yet provides a
affordable, yet provides a
highly accurate prescription
highly accurate prescription
for myopia
for myopia
(nearsightedness), hyperopia
(nearsightedness), hyperopia
(farsightedness), and
(farsightedness), and
astigmatism (distortion in
astigmatism (distortion in
visual image due to a
visual image due to a
nonspherical cornea).
nonspherical cornea).

32. The FOCOMETER in used
The FOCOMETER in used
by children in 40 countries
by children in 40 countries
around the world.
around the world.

34. Eyeglasses can then be prescribed even in remote
Eyeglasses can then be prescribed even in remote
and medically underserved communities.
and medically underserved communities.

37. During a vision exam,
During a vision exam,
problems other than refractive
problems other than refractive
errors may also be detected in
errors may also be detected in
children …
children …

38. … such as “Acanthosis nigricans,” evidence of insulin
… such as “Acanthosis nigricans,” evidence of insulin
resistance – a major risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes, a
resistance – a major risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes, a
leading cause of blindness that can be prevented if
leading cause of blindness that can be prevented if
affected children take precautions against obesity and
affected children take precautions against obesity and
glucose (sugar) consumption.
glucose (sugar) consumption.

39. Children found with symptoms of vitamin A deficiency can
Children found with symptoms of vitamin A deficiency can
also be treated (with a therapeutic dose of vitamin A and a
also be treated (with a therapeutic dose of vitamin A and a
good protein rich meal) during a community vision care
good protein rich meal) during a community vision care
program run by volunteers.
program run by volunteers.

42. In partnership with the
In partnership with the
World Health Organization
World Health Organization
and the International
and the International
Agency to Prevent
Agency to Prevent
Blindness and Visual
Blindness and Visual
Dysfunction, InFOCUS has
Dysfunction, InFOCUS has
addressed this issue by
addressed this issue by
training non-eye care
training non-eye care
professionals, teachers,
professionals, teachers,
community health workers,
community health workers,
volunteers and missionaries
volunteers and missionaries
to deliver a high standard of
to deliver a high standard of
vision care.
vision care.

43. Teachers and others have learned to use the FOCOMETER,
Teachers and others have learned to use the FOCOMETER,
a device developed by InFOCUS to measure refractive error
a device developed by InFOCUS to measure refractive error
and the eyeglass prescription needed.
and the eyeglass prescription needed.

44. InFOCUS has recently trained primary school teachers in
InFOCUS has recently trained primary school teachers in
Zhenghe, China to assess children’s vision and refer to
Zhenghe, China to assess children’s vision and refer to
optometrists for eyeglass prescriptions.
optometrists for eyeglass prescriptions.

45. Starting with a bunch of kids, eager to see clearly and to
Starting with a bunch of kids, eager to see clearly and to
learn …
learn …

46. … sorting out those who need to be refracted …
… sorting out those who need to be refracted …

47. … measuring refractive error with a FOCOMETER …
… measuring refractive error with a FOCOMETER …

48. … and dispensing eyeglasses
… and dispensing eyeglasses
with the correct prescription to
with the correct prescription to
those who need them!
those who need them!

51. Happily,
eyeglasses
manufactured in
developing
countries like
China and India
are inexpensive
and affordable.
Only a vision
exam needs to
become available
to all who need
one. The
FOCOMETER
may make this
possible.

54. IIcan see clearly now
can see clearly now
the food must fall …
the food must fall …
Thank you for your rapt
Thank you for your rapt
attention !!
attention InFOCUS
InFOCUS