Purpose : To study the etiology and burden of incurable blindness and to know the status of rehabilitation measures among the blind individuals.

Materials and Methods:

A population based prospective study among 1000 participants who were blind (BCVA less than 6/60) and conducted from January 2016 to July 2017 in the retina department of a tertiary eye care centre, Kolkata, India.

Results:

The study identified 550 incurably blind individuals.  Congenital malformations 279 (50.72%) aside the leading cause of incurable blindness, a significant number 231 (42%) were preventable if timely action had taken. A total of 67 (12.18%) were children below 10 years. Sixteen (2.9%) among them received blind school education. Four hundred and sixty two 462 (84%) are not using low vision aids (LVA).  Four hundred and eighty (87.28%) are unemployed and dependent for livelihood. Four (0.72%) received vocational and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) training.

Conclusion:

Preventable causes of bilateral blindness are highly rampant in our community till now. Economically weaker section, women and children are more neglected. Hardly, blinds are using Low vision aids (LVA). Blind school attendance rate is very poor.  Majorities are unemployed and have no formal vocational and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) training.