Preventative Eye Care Method Exploration

A large problem in India is the unavailability of basic eye care, especially with60-70 million people suffering from visual impairment and the majority living in rural communities. The majority of these eye problems can be avoided through safer precautions, or easily treated if caught early. I will explore the impact of preventative eye care methods in villagers' inaccessibility to eye care and eye services. I will work with patients and doctors at Kalinga Hospital to identify common misconceptions in eye care, and create posters and/or hold demonstrations teaching preventative methods, analogous to breast self-exams. I am learning even more from the environment around me - the nuances that separate Odisha's methods from Western medicine is something that I can only learn by fully immersing myself in this experience.