The Punjab Government would organise free eye camps in all the districts and sub-divisional hospitals from March 9 to 13. Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani on Saturday asked the government and private eye surgeons to ensure that guidelines regarding eye camps are followed strictly during the camps to avoid any mishap. He said that the camps would be organised under strict supervision of the expert ophthalmologists and other trained medical and paramedical staff.
Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Vini Mahajan said adequate steps have been taken to control blindness in the State. Since, 60 per cent of blindness is due to cataract, a major thrust in the year 2014-15 would be to bring down the level of blindness from 1 per cent to 0.3 per cent by 2020.
“Our aim is to perform 95 per cent of Cataract surgeries with IOl implantation,” she added. She said emphasis has been laid on the latest technique of Stitch less Cataract Surgery. Phaco Machines have been provided in District Hospitals. Director Health Karanjeet Singh Said that ophthalmic refraction units have been installed in DHs and SDHs.