Vinod Kumar Baranwal 1 , Rajendra Prasad Gupta 2 , Shikhar Gaur 3 , K. Satyabala 4 , Rupali Bose
BACKGROUND We report our experiences of successfully conducting twelve surgical outreach eye camps and suggest protocol and strict allegiance to guidelines for the same, which have been mired in controversy and disrepute repeatedly due to associated blinding complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve operative eye camps were organised at various locations by the eye departments of two tertiary care hospitals between September 2011 and July 2015. RESULTS A total of 8039 patients were seen in OPDs. The common cases in OPD included refractive error 56.2%, dry eyes 19.9%, allergic conjunctivitis 7.8% and cataract 17.7%. 988 cases were operated for cataract, 5 for glaucoma and 21 for pterygium. 87% cases operated for cataract surgery had grade III and above nuclear sclerosis. 95.4% cases were operated by modern phacoemulsification technique of cataract surgery. Only, 1.5% cases developed complications due to surgery. No case developed postoperative infection. CONCLUSION Owing to the remarkable results, cataract surgery camps are way ahead of other medical discipline in combating the morbidity load of the society. If we follow the standard guidelines, results are always encouraging. It is not correct to stop and ban surgical eye camps for their occasional unexpected bad results. The protocols described by us have been derived on the guidelines of various authorities on the subject and the law of the land and we suggest that these guidelines maybe adopted by others in the endeavour of decreasing blindness from the world
