Primary eye care (PEC) is a broad concept, encompassing the prevention of potentially blinding eye diseases through primary health care (PHC), Immunization against major infectious diseases, Prevention and control of local endemic diseases, Appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries.
WHAT IS PRIMARY EYE CARE??
Primary eye care is the provision of appropriate, accessible, and affordable care that meets patients’ eye care needs in a comprehensive and competent manner.(American association of Ophthalmologist)
Primary eye care provides the patient with the first contact for eye care as well as a lifetime of continuing care.
OBJECTIVES
Primary eye care services are integrated to meet the needs of patients from a single source so patients can receive quality, efficient eye care that is coordinated with general health care services
The aim of primary eye care is to change the pattern of eye care services, currently often limited to the central hospitals and eye units in the cities, to countrywide blindness prevention programs. In most developing countries avoidable blindness constitutes a major public health problem
COMPONENTS OF PRIMARY EYE CARE
- eye health education and counseling
- symptom identification.
- visual acuity measurement.
- basic eye examination.
- diagnosis.
- timely referral.
- Fitting and prescribing optical aids