The lowest number of blind people of Sri Lanka had been reported from the Southern Province and the highest from Uva Province.
People living in the Eastern and North Western (Wayamba) Provinces too are suffering from preventable blindness more than the people living in other areas, a recent research conducted by the Vision 2020 Programme revealed.
According to the research, 80 percent of the blindness is preventable. The people who had become blind due to cataract is 66.7 percent and the percentage of people who had become blind due to various visual defects is 14.60. The research conducted in 2014 had also revealed that the prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), especially diabetes is a major reason that causes blindness. The elderly population of Sri Lanka is 14 percent and it will increase to 20 percent by 2025.
Meanwhile, Director General, Health Services, Dr. P. G. Mahipala requested all Sri Lankans to sponsor one or more cataract surgeries to mark birthdays, death anniversaries, etc. because one such surgery costs only Rs. 5,400 which is unaffordable to many needy patients.
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