Visual Disability in India: Evidence from National Sample Survey

Bhawna Malik, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Sayeed Unisa, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Sharma Lokpriy, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Disability is a potential measure of health status of a population. Among all disabilities, visual disability is considered to be more important as sight is one of the five important senses possessed by man. In the present study an attempt has been made to assess visual disability in India. The latest 58th round of National Sample Survey conducted in 2002 has been used. Bivariate analysis has been used to fulfill the objectives. The result shows that there exists a vast differential in visual disability in major states of India and also by background characteristics. The analysis of age of onset of visual disability shows the highest prevalence at after age 70. Old age, cataract and other eye diseases found as the major causes of visual disability. Inspite of the large number of visually disabled persons, one-quarter did not take any treatment and very few had attended special school.