The nationwide Rapid Assessment of Refractive Error and Presbyopia (RAREP) survey, conducted across 32 districts of India, has successfully concluded in the Palampur region of Himachal Pradesh. Palampur was selected as the state's representative region for this important health study, which took place from June 1 to June 9.
Collaborative Effort
The survey was carried out by the Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Rotary Eye Foundation and the Rotary Eye Hospital, Maranda. Joint teams from AIIMS and Rotary Eye Hospital conducted door-to-door visits in 30 urban and rural clusters of the Palampur region to assess the prevalence of refractive errors and presbyopia among community members.
Community Participation
The survey was completed successfully with enthusiastic participation from residents and dedicated efforts by the field teams. Dr Priya Kapila was assigned the responsibility of coordinating between AIIMS and the Rotary Eye Hospital teams, ensuring smooth execution of field activities, data collection, and communication throughout the survey period.
Significance of the Survey
Dr Sudhir Salhotra, Director of Rotary Eye Foundation and Rotary Eye Hospital, Maranda, stated that Palampur's selection for this important national study was a matter of great pride for the district and the state. He noted that the survey findings would contribute significantly to the formulation of future eye care policies. Raghav Sharma, General Manager of Rotary Eye Hospital, Maranda, added that the successful completion of the survey reflected the institution's commitment to quality healthcare, community service, and public health research.
Impact on Eye Care Policies
Experts believe that the data generated through the survey will provide valuable insights into the burden of refractive errors and age-related vision problems. This information will help policymakers strengthen eye care services and improve visual health outcomes across the country. The RAREP survey aims to generate evidence-based data to guide national eye health programs and address unmet needs in vision correction.
