[Possibilities for prevention and treatment of blindness and impaired vision in children caused by congenital eye diseases].

Blindness, disability, and impaired vision present important medicosocial problems. According to the WHO, there are 1.5 million blind children in the world. The prevalence of child blindness in Russia is 1.6, and that of impaired vision is 3.5 per 10000 children. It is considered that child blindness can be prevented in 40 to 50% of children. According to data collected during ophthalmological examinations in specialized school, blindness in 88 to 92% of cases is caused by. Presently, significant achievements have been made in treatment of congenital eye diseases. Application of modem surgical techniques in patients with cataract, aphakia, or amblyopia makes it possible to increase visual acuity to 0.3 or higher in 35% of children, and to 0.005 to 0.25 in 45% of children. Modem pathogenetically directed surgery together with timely treatment allows for the normalization of intraocular pressure and visual stabilization in 76.4 to 86.4% of children with congenital glaucoma. In this connection, the achievements of scientific research should be introduced into practice. Realization of the 1999 WHO program on liquidation of eliminable blindness include three key directions: treatment and prevention of blindness; consolidation of the infrastructure and technology of ophthalmological aid; training of specialists.