Kathmandu. World Optometry Day, which is celebrated every year, is once again celebrated on March 23. This year, the Nepal World Association of Visual Specialists held a rally and program under the slogan ‘Visual Specialists for Special Eye Services’. Rally T.V. The teaching hospital started from the premises of Maharanganj, passed through Chakrapath, Basundhara, Kanti Children’s Hospital and ended at the VP Koirala Eye Study Center of Teaching Hospital. The rally was attended by students studying optometry, teachers and ophthalmologists as well as eye health dignitaries.
The chief guest of the program was the President of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Pvt. Dr. Tirtha Prasad Mishra said that ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists are working in the field of eye health in Nepal. He said that they are complementary to each other. Mishra pointed out that the division of labor between these three types of health manpower in Nepal is not clear. He said, “Even though Nepal’s eye health care is better than other countries, the government has not given much importance to the identity of eye specialists.”
Ophthalmologists provide eye care services as well as other specialized eye services. Therapies for the treatment of lazy eye, headaches with weakened eye muscles are given by the vision specialist. Similarly, for the prevention of visual impairment, spectacles, contact lenses are tested and provided, and low vision is restored by a vision specialist.
According to the Nepal Council of Health Practitioners, there are currently 700 vision specialists registered in Nepal. Launched in 1997 at the Tribhuvan University Institute of Medical Studies, Maharajganj Medical Campus, this educational program is currently running under the National Academy of Medical Sciences and Pokhara University. According to various surveys around the world, 2.5 billion people are deprived of treatment for visual impairment. Such surveys have shown that lack of access to eye services is the main reason for this. There is a need to integrate eye health care in basic health care in Nepal and other developing countries as well. It is believed that eye health care will be accessible to the public only if this is done. In this context, it is necessary for the government to provide quality eye services to the general public by recognizing the potential of vision specialists.
