Eye disorders found to be widespread among schoolchildren in Northern Province

Eye disorders are widespread among schoolchildren in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, according to screenings carried out by the Ophthalmology Unit of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Consultant ophthalmic surgeon Dr M. Malaravan said recent examinations conducted across five education zones in Kilinochchi had found that a large number of Grade One pupils were affected by conditions including squint, refractive errors, eye allergies and poor vision.

The screening programme is being carried out with the approval of the Director General of Health Services and is expected to cover all 13 education zones in the Northern Province before the end of this month.