Glossary

Avoidable blindness

Avoidable blindness refers to vision impairment that can either be treated or prevented. For example, although cataracts cannot be prevented, they can be treated with a simple surgery. Another example would be trachoma, a painful eye infection. Trachoma can be prevented using antibiotics or by regularly washing your face with clean water. We refer to this blindness as “avoidable” to recognize that, with proper and timely treatment, sight loss can be prevented or treated. An estimated 90 percent of vision loss is avoidable (treatable or preventable).


Capacity strengthening (sometimes referred to as capacity building)

Capacity strengthening refers to efforts made to improve an organization’s or system’s functioning. This often involves training and may also involve facility/equipment upgrades.


Community eye care

Eye care services provided in local communities by community members assessing and referring individuals to appropriate services and treatments. Community eye care programs focus on bringing eye health care services as close to people’s homes as possible and include screening programs, education and health promotion, and empowering community members to take ownership of their eye health care needs.


Community health workers

Women and men who work and live in the communities surrounding a hospital or vision centre who have received training to identify eye health problems and conduct door-to-door surveys. They’re able to reach each individual and refer patients to an appropriate level of care. They also educate community members about eye health and general health topics such as nutrition, prenatal care, and hygiene and sanitation.


Continuum of care

In health, a continuum of care refers to a system that provides long-term services to ensure that a patient is supported through the entire process towards recovery. In eye health care, that means that we have systems in place to ensure that once individuals are diagnosed with an eye health condition or vision impairment, they receive the support necessary to pursue treatment. This could mean helping them secure transportation or financial assistance so that they get the procedure or equipment necessary to solve their eye health problem. We establish links between primary care facilities (vision centres) and secondary care facilities (hospitals) to facilitate patient referrals and follow up.


Hospital-Based Community Eye Health

A blend of community eye care, primary health care and community development. Through this model, hospitals develop the capacity to offer quality services and make them available to more patients. Community health workers who work and live in the communities surrounding a hospital receive training to identify eye health problems and conduct door-to-door surveys. They’re able to reach each individual and refer patients to an appropriate level of care. Primary eye care centres (vision centres) are then established, while health promotion and education increases eye health care and general health awareness. Hospital-Based Community Eye Health programs also reinforce maternal and child health activities like immunization and antenatal and postnatal care, as well as education and socio-economic development.

To learn more about our program model, visit https://operationeyesight.com/our-approach/


Non-Financial Technical Partnership (NFTP)

The partnership model that was conceived and promoted by Operation Eyesight in India during 2012-2013. Traditionally, international NGOs (including Operation Eyesight) funded local organizations to implement an agreed-upon program or project. With our new NFTP model, Operation Eyesight and our partner organization jointly agree to the outcomes and reporting requirements for a specific program or project. Our partner then implements the program with technical support from us. In this model, we don’t give financial assistance to our partner; instead, we provide them with technical assistance and supervision in all stages of delivery, ensuring they provide quality eye health care services. Our expertise in community-based eye health programming and hospital quality improvement is in huge demand. Our Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Program model is being replicated by various partners, meaning we’re able to reach out to more people to give them the gift of sight.


Poor eye health-seeking behaviour

This refers to the behavior exhibited by people who are experiencing problems with their eyesight but are not taking care of their vision or seeking medical attention when needed. We’ve learned there are many reasons for this, such as simple lack of awareness that help is available, superstitions or myths about eyes, a bad experience receiving treatment in the past, inability to pay for services, or not being able to travel to a clinic or hospital. Grassroots education and awareness campaigns go a long way to addressing many of these barriers.


Primary eye care

Eye care services provided by a centre located within a community, where initial eye screenings and refractive testing can occur and further referral can be made. The centre may be mobile and can move around within a community.


Secondary eye care

A hospital or eye care centre where minor/standard surgeries and eye treatments can be administered. This centre will often be the initial referral point of the community and primary eye care service professionals.


SAFE

SAFE is a World Health Organization-endorsed strategy that stands for Surgery to treat trichiasis (the painful late stage of trachoma), Antibiotics to treat infection, Face washing and hygiene education, and Environmental change including wells and latrines. Operation Eyesight implements the full SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma in areas where the disease is prevalent.


Teleophthalmology

Teleophthalmology refers to the delivery of eye care via digital medical equipment and telecommunications technology. It can be used to deliver specialized care to rural and remote regions, eliminating the need for patients to travel far distances to health centres.


Tertiary eye care

Often referred to as Centres of Excellence, these centres have capacity to perform complicated surgeries and procedures. They also train professionals in the eye care field and sub-speciality studies.


Trachoma

Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection that spreads easily through contact with eye discharge from infected people on hands, towels and clothing, and also through direct transmission by flies. Children are especially susceptible to trachoma, and infection often begins during infancy and can become chronic. Left untreated, the eyelid eventually turns inward, causing the eyelashes to rub the eyeball, resulting in intense pain and scarring of the cornea. This ultimately leads to irreversible blindness, typically between 30 and 40 years of age.


Vision centres

Permanent facilities staffed by trained eye care personnel, established at strategic locations to provide services like eye exams, diagnosis and referral of eye problems, and fittings for prescription eyeglasses. The majority of our vision centres become self-sustaining within six to 18 months through the sale of custom eyeglasses, which funds eyeglasses for those unable to afford them.


Vision impairment

An umbrella term for vision loss, vision impairment refers to anyone who completely or partially loses their sight.

The World Health Organization classifies vision impairment into two groups:

  1. Distance vision impairment
    1. Mild –visual acuity worse than 6/12 to 6/18
    1. Moderate –visual acuity worse than 6/18 to 6/60
    1. Severe –visual acuity worse than 6/60 to 3/60
    1. Blindness –visual acuity worse than 3/60
  2. Near vision impairment: Near visual acuity worse than N6 or M.08 at 40cm.

WASH

WASH is an acronym for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. It plays a fundamental role in good health and well-being. Sufficient WASH protocols can significantly reduce the prevalence of communicable diseases such as trachoma and COVID-19. Learn more.


Water point

At a water point, people can draw water for their household needs (drinking water, washing etc.) and, to a lesser extent, for watering animals. It isn’t meant for irrigation or industrial needs. Water points can either be located at the source (such as a borehole) or within a local water distribution network that may receive water from one or several sources (such as a handpump).