Micronesia

Blindness in Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia comprises roughly 600 islands scattered across a Pacific Ocean territory that is five times larger than France. Only four public hospitals serve the nation, and direct access is limited to residents living close to these four urban centers.

Furthermore, vision care resources across Micronesia are extremely limited. With only one ophthalmologist nationwide, individuals with critical vision problems must be sent to Hawaii or the Philippines for treatment. Patients must fund their own travel and medical costs, which is financially impossible for many. Consequently, most Micronesians dealing with blindness or vision loss must wait for visiting foreign medical teams to receive necessary care.

The main causes of blindness in Micronesia are cataract and diabetic retinopathy, which are treatable and/or avoidable in most cases.