Women in India often face disadvantages in accessing eye care throughout their lives. Rohit Khanna from the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute said, "The father asked, what was the point of her living if she was going to be disfigured." Many families prioritise men, leaving girls with preventable vision loss.
Across their lifespans, from childhood to old age, women face disadvantages in access to eye health and care. For many, treatment depends on how their health is prioritised by the men in their household. Late care, or lack of access can leave girls and women with preventable visual impairment and loss
"I remember a patient, a little girl with retinoblastoma," says Rohit Khanna, a community ophthalmologist and network director from L.V.Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. "We told the family that the child required surgery and that the eyeball would have to be removed for her to survive. We were immediately met with resistance. The father asked, what was the point of her living if she was going to be disfigured. They would not be able to get her married later."
Retinoblastoma is a rare, fast-growing tumour of the eye and is often seen in early childhood. It is a type of cancer, and can lead to death if not treated.