Can corneal blindness be cured in 2020?
When anyone sets out to find a cure for a disease or a certain condition, it is warmly welcomed by those who suffer from this issue. For those with corneal blindness, any news of a cure that is affordable or accessible is something that they hope for every day. In recent years, certain foundations have been making large strides towards achieving this and helping those with corneal blindness.
What is corneal blindness?
If you have never heard of corneal blindness before then you might be surprised to hear just how many people suffer from this. Around 5% of the total blind population in the world have corneal blindness. Many people have heard of causes of blindness such as glaucoma or cataracts but few have heard of corneal blindness, which stems from a disease in the cornea.
Can it be cured?
The good news is that it is possible to cure corneal blindness; this is something which is becoming more accessible over recent years. The only real cure for corneal blindness at the moment is a transplant or a cornea graft which involves surgery.
Of course, not every country around the world has access to eye banks and this can make it much harder for those who require a cure for their blindness to receive the treatment. This issue is very common in countries such as India, but many sufferers are not able to afford the treatment.
The future of treatments
According to WHO, up to 75% of corneal disease can be cured entirely. For this reason, some organisations such as the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute have been doing what they can to help those in need. The kindness shown in projects completed by this institute in India is something which is being reflected around the world.
With the treatment becoming much more accessible for those in need, even in third-world countries, the future looks a little brighter for those with corneal blindness. While not everyone has been cured yet, there is a chance that those who require the treatment will receive it in the coming years.
Final thoughts
As you can see, a lot of work is being done in the background to help people around the world who are suffering from corneal blindness. While many people are not even aware of what this disease involves, others are doing what they can to help those who are suffering.
It is expected that the treatment for this disease will become much more mainstream over the coming years.