14 Percent Kathmandu Schoolkids Have Eye Ailments: Study

Around 14 percent schoolkids in Nepal’s federal capital Kathmandu are found to have eye ailments. According to the eye vision test conducted among 11,637 schoolkids in Kathmandu, 1,260 were found to have some sorts of eye ailments.

The test jointly conducted by Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Kirtipur Eye Hospital and Health Department of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City included 6,175 schoolboys and 5,462 schoolgirls, says Deepak Kumar KC, the department head. Of them, 10.83 percent were found to have myopia and other 2.61 percent were having various other forms of eye ailments.

During the tests, 11 categories of medicines were distributed for free and students and teachers were urged for timely eyecare. The tests was conducted on the occasion of World Vision Day which was observed on October 9 this year.