Village-integrated eye workers for prevention of corneal ulcers in Nepal (VIEW study): a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Corneal ulcers are a common cause of blindness in low-income and middle-income countries, usually resulting from traumatic corneal abrasions during agricultural work. Antimicrobial prophylaxis of corneal abrasions can help prevent corneal ulcers, but delays in the initiation of therapy are frequent. We aimed to assess whether a community-based programme for corneal ulcer prevention would reduce the incidence of corneal ulceration.

Methods

A cluster-randomised trial was performed in village development committees (VDCs) in Nepal. VDCs in the catchment area of Bharatpur Eye Hospital, Nepal with less than 15 000 people were eligible for inclusion. We randomly assigned (1:1) VDCs to either an intervention group or a control group. In the intervention VDCs, existing fe

SUBMITTER: O'Brien KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9814976 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature