Jamaica

Blindness in Jamaica

Jamaica is a picturesque Caribbean island known for its lush topography of mountain ranges, forests, and bright beaches. Since declaring independence from the United Kingdom in 1962, the country has dealt with periods of significant economic growth and decline. Health care is free to all citizens and legal residents, but many Jamaicans still do not have access. As the population has increased and aged over the past five decades, the health care system has been facing great difficulties, and rural regions receive little to no care as most people living in these areas do not have access to transportation to reach a clinic.

Almost half of the Jamaican population has never received an eye exam. Consequently, approximately 27,000 Jamaicans suffer from preventable blindness. Cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy are among the leading causes.