Durban Declaration on Refractive Error and Service Development

Key public health bodies and healthcare professionals today
watched as the Durban Declaration was signed at the World Congress on
Refractive Error to advocate public health strategies for an end to
unnecessary blindness from uncorrected refractive error affecting more
than 300 million people in the world today.

The Declaration states refractive error is a major health issue
impacting on individuals, their families and communities and which is
a contributing cause of poverty in the world. Avoidable blindness and
impaired vision, which has an estimated global economic impact of
$US42 billion annually, half of which is due to refractive error.

The impact of refractive error services would make a profound
impact on reduced levels of child and adult literacy rates and
significantly impact on poverty through increased employment
opportunities and productivity, contributing to the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals.

Over 650 international delegates at the Congress heard that the
major challenge ahead was to ensure that those blind or vision
impaired due to refractive error not only needed access to an eye
examination and a pair of affordable glasses, but that health,
education, social welfare systems needed to empower communities,
parents and children to contribute to improving their own eye health.

The Declaration recognized that the greatest contribution to a
severe worldwide lack of refractive error services was the lack of
trained personnel to provide them; a need that was most pronounced in
poor and marginalized communities.

The Declaration resolved to:

-- Create global awareness of the impact of refractive error on
sufferers, their families and community and the need for
services;

-- Advocate to National Governments and world health care
agencies for the policies, services and resources required to
meet the needs.

-- Strive to overcome the barriers that prevent those with
refractive error and low vision from obtaining the same
services, rights and opportunities as others;

-- Ensure refractive error services are prioritized in planning
and development of National Health Plans;

-- Invest in training of eyecare workers and professionals;

-- Support the establishment of global distribution channels to
make high quality spectacles available;

-- Encourage research and application of the results to achieving
the most effective solutions; and

-- Work to build relationships with private sector and service
providers to expand availability of sustainable services.

The Congress was hosted by the International Centre for Eyecare
Education (ICEE) and attended by representatives of World Health
Organisation (WHO), International Agency for the Prevention of
Blindness (the peak body on avoidable blindness), World Council
Optometry, International NGO planners, professional associations and
leading clinical and public health scientists.

The Declaration was signed by the Chairs of the IAPB, ICEE and the
Congress Chair.

Congress Chairperson, Professor Kovin Naidoo, said today, "...the
discussions leading up to the Declaration will have a monumental
impact on how we view the current eyecare crisis in so many countries
in the world. In most developing countries, there are no Optometrists,
no schools of Optometry and no one to provide the appropriate
refractive error services for the population. It is crucial that these
services are established," he said.

Chair of ICEE, Professor Brien Holden said, "at this very historic
congress we have identified that while the magnitude of the problem is
beyond our original estimations, the need is urgent and the solution
is achievable."

For a full copy of the Durban Declaration download at
www.icee2007.org.za after 4.00pm, 16 March, 2007.

For more information on the congress please visit our congress
website. If you are interested interview or more information please
contact: Steph OConnell.

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ICEE would like to thank our supporters and sponsors

World Council of Optometry IAPB CIBA Vision Essilor

Institute for Eye Research Transitions Bausch & Lomb

Africa Office: 272 Umbilo Road, Durban 4001 South Africa
Tel/Fax: +27 31 202 3811 Email: icee@icee.africa.co.za
Global Office: Level 4, North Wing, Rupert Myers Building,
UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Tel: +61 2 9385 7435 Fax: +61 2 9385 7436 ABN. 86 081 872 586
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