Over 85% of blindness cases are preventable

The common reasons for blindness in India include cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, uncorrected refractive error and corneal blindness

#NEW DELHI While India has the maximum number of blind people in the world, most do not know that in more than 85 per cent of the cases, the condition is preventable, said experts on Thursday on World Sight Day.

India is home to an estimated 34 million people living with blindness or moderate or severe visual impairment (MSVI).

"Nearly 85 per cent of blindness in the world is avoidable which can either be preventable or treatable," Dr. Rajesh Sinha, Professor, Dept. of Ophthalmology, AIIMS New Delhi said.