Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness at district buner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was community based, cross sectional study, standard RAAB methods were applied. The data was collected at district buner Khyber Pakhtounkhwa. Total of 280 individual were examined during 2 months of the study. Out of 280 individuals 200(71.4 %) were male and 80(28.6%) were female. Categorizing patients on the basis of age, 39 (13.5%) were children (0-14 years), 133(47.5%) were age group of 15-49, while 108(38.6%) were age 50 and above. Regarding wearing of spectacles 49(17.5%) were using distance corrections only, 24(8.6%) were using near vision glasses only, while 40(14.3%) were using bifocals. The prevalence of blindness in district buner is 1.6 % in right eye while 2.0% in left eye. The prevalence of visual impairment in district buner due to refractive error was almost 25% in both eyes while considering 27% in right eye, 28% in left eye, Prevalence of un operated cataract was 13% in each eye. The major reasons of refusals or not doing cataract surgery were 25 (56%) cannot afford surgery, 7(2.5%) patients treatment denied by provider, 3(1.1%) were that of need not felt for cataract surgery, 1(.4%) patient give a reason of fear of surgery or poor result, 1 (.4%) patient given reasons of unawareness that treatment is possible, while 1 (.4%) given optional reason. Based on this study it was concluded that high prevalence (13 %) of unoperated cataract is there at district Buner. The major reason is that people could not afford the surgery cost. Other studies show that cataract is the most cost effective intervention of the health care intervention in the world; therefore by creating awareness in the communities and advocacy to government and other nongovernmental institutions, policies and procedures would be developed to overcome this treatable cause of blindness.
Keywords:Avoidable blindness, Bifocals, Cataract, KPK, Spectacles.