AHMEDABAD: A recent study on blindness in the State showed that majority of the approximately 40,000 corneal blind people in Gujarat are children below 12 years.

Thousands of them could blame the disability on circumstances that are easily avoidable, say eye specialists.

Natural causes for the disease include lack of Vitamin A, but corneal blindness among children is mostly caused due to injury by a pointed object, crackers and at times infections. In several cases, lime used with tobacco also damages the cornea, a common occurrence in our country. According to the latest findings of the Eye Bank Association of India, there are around 10 million blind people in the country, of which 2 million suffer from corneal blindness, with more than 60 per cent of them being children below the age of 12.

The causes of their blindness are injuries, malnutrition, infection and chemical burns. Gujarat is no exception as 40 per cent of its total blind population are corneal blind.

Dr Bhushan Punani from the Blind People’s Association says, “Fourty per cent of the total blind people in Gujarat are corneal blind and it is a very significant number if we consider that it can be prevented by taking some simple steps and minor precautions.’’

After cataract, corneal failure is the major reason for blindness in the country.

The country is celebrating ‘Prevention of Corneal Blindness in Children Fortnight’ from August 25 to September 9 to bring awareness about preventing corneal blindness, especially in children below 12, and to encourage people to donate eyes.

‘‘More than 60 per cent of the corneal blind are children,’’ says Dr Ashish Nagpal from the Aso Palov Eye Bank in Ahmedabad. “Summer vacation and Diwali are the periods when maximum children injure their cornea,’’ he adds.

The State Health Department is organising a number of programmes at government-run hospitals to counsel parents about the disease and to bring awareness about donating eyes.

Says Dr Ushaben Vyas, Superintendent of the Nagari Eye Hospital, “Corneal blindness in children is very common and there is a need to bring awareness for the same.” Vyas said that the Nagari Hospital is organising a number of programmes regarding corneal blindness. Doctors say that though Gujarat is the top eye donour in the country, it is yet not enough to meet the need of the total number of blind. Dr Urmit Shah, an eye specialist says, “I personally believe that as many people as possible should donate eyes. It will be helpful for research or education purpose if not for cornea transplantation,” he adds.