Mobile eye-care teams and rural ophthalmology in southern Africa

Abstract

Almost all ophthalmic services in southern Africa are located in large urban centres beyond the reach of many patients in isolated rural areas. The Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness organizes mobile eye-care teams which tour these areas to provide free ophthalmic therapy and surgery. The structure and aims of the mobile teams, with reference to a specific tour, are described; the problems encountered in providing rural ophthalmological services are discussed and some possible solutions proposed.