Ocular Morbidity 2012-2016

A mid-year assessment of MECC project in 2011 necessitated us to manage other secondary and tertiary eye disorders like Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy. MECC funding provides financial support for the screening, setting of vision centres, spectacles, salaries for support staff, conveyance to campsites etc. For disease management, the project only covers refractive errors. Although the magnitude of refractive errors is large a number of cases with cataract and other ocular morbidity included in the leading causes of blindness are being detected. Every month average of 100 patients is referred to Lotus Eye Hospital for further management. At this point of time, the patients are expected to pay the Hospital for their services. However these are nominal rates because Lotus Eye Hospital is a charitable eye hospital. But most of these patients are indigent patients with an annual income of 25,000/-. Hence are unable to pay for the treatment.

The SDTT and Allied trust supported this concern and thus Ocular Morbidity project was installed since 2012. It did value addition to MECC

The funding from Jamsethji Tata Trust was utilized for detection, diagnosis and management of cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Impact Report:

Service Delivery to adults and children were provided with ocular morbidity services, in the absence of which they would have been needlessly blind due to conditions like Glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Over 150 Optometrists were trained during this period to screen and diagnose conditions like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy in campsites with the help of devices supported in this project like fundus cameras. 19 students were also supported by way of scholarships.

Awareness Generation:

Brochure distribution was done in housing societies of JVPD and Vile Parle. Over 5000 brochures on Diabetic Retinopathy and glaucoma and availability of treatment options were distributed in the housing societies of project has improved compared to the previous reporting periods. Street plays were organized in Dharavi and Bandra slums to raise awareness, and it had tremendous response.