Expert urges govt care for cataracts

SEMARANG: The government should pay serious attention to blindness caused by cataracts, as the some two million sufferers across the country will likely surge in the coming years, public health expert Soebowo warned here on Sunday.

"The government should earnestly handle this matter, if not, then numbers will continue to increase, especially during times of economic crisis," said Soebowo of Diponegoro University.

He said that millions could avoid becoming visually impaired if the government took concerted action on the matter.

"There is a direct relationship between blindness caused by cataracts, and a low vitamin intake, particularly Vitamin A," he argued.

He said that cataract operations were quite expensive, about one to three million rupiah. However, Soebowo contended that with government subsidies people would be able to undergo such operations at public health centers for as low as Rp 100,000.

Cataracts commonly occur in people over 50 years old, however, malnutrition can also cause a clouding of the eye lens, or its surrounding transparent membrane, which obstructs the passage of light and leads to blindness. (har)