Training for primary and preventive eye care

Abstract

This paper discusses what health workers at various levels can be expected to do in providing eye care with regard to recognizing, managing and preventing common eye conditions. Three particular levels, Kenya's ophthalmic clinical officer (secondary level), general clinical officers and nurses (first-referral level) and primary health workers (primary level) will be discussed. Appropriate and effective training methods will be described especially with regard to curriculum content and resources. Emphasis in teaching is placed on the public health techniques already well understood by health workers and on the connection those techniques have to the prevention of blindness.