This course aims to provide an understanding of the major global initiatives regarding prevention and control of blindness, and an ability to translate these to a local level.

The course includes discussion of the following: (1) the concept of ‘community’ (2) definitions of blindness and visual impairment (3) global initiatives of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight (4) Universal eye health: a global action plan 2014-2019(5)impacts of blindness and visual impairment at global and local levels (6) issues in the prevention and control of major blinding eye diseases (7) Understanding the social determinants of blindness and (8) Health systems and eye health (9) An Overview of indigenous eye and healthcare in Australia