Key findings of the Survey:
- Cataract is the principal cause of blindness for people above 50 years in India. Cataract is the cause for 66.2% cases of blindness, 80.7% cases of severe visual impairment, and 70.2% cases of moderate visual impairment in the age group.
- Blindness is more pronounced among illiterate (3.23%) than literates (0.43%) and more prevalent in the rural population (2.14%) than urban (1.80%).
- Approximately 93% of cases of blindness and 96.2% visual impairment cases in this age group were avoidable.
- Barriers to accessing treatment includes no one to accompany [the patient], seasonal preferences, and financial constraints.
- Among men, the most important barriers are financial constraints (31%) and local reasons (21.5%).
- Among women, local reasons (23.1%) and financial constraints (21.2%) were the most important barriers.
