Council for the Blind has been a leading provider of eye services in Zimbabwe since 1955.
67+
years of preventive eye health services
60000+
people screened annually
10000
pairs of spectacles dispensed annually
4500
cataract surgeries annually
Cataract Operations
A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye leading to a decrease in vision. It can affect one or both eyes. Often it develops slowly. Symptoms may include blurry vision, trouble with bright lights (glare) but there is on pain. Cataracts are a major cause of Blindness in Zimbabwe. Consequently cataract operations are a major activity of the Council for the Blind. On average about 25 operations are carried out per outing. With 4 outings per month in each of the five provinces, about 500 cataract operations are carried out nationally every month. In order to reach as many patients as possible Special eye camps are conducted. During an eye camp, which can last up to 4 days, between 75 and 300 cataract operations are carried out. Currently Council for the Blind conducts about 5 eye camps nationally every year.





Education
Departmental Objectives:
- To compliment the Ministry of Education’s effort in providing special education to the blind and visually impaired children.
- To identify, screen, assess and place blind and visually impaired children throughout the country
- To provide specialized education equipment for use by the identified blind and low vision pupils nationally
- To provide Braille literature to schools and units catering for the educational needs for the blind and visually impaired