A Bradford eye specialist has returned from a visit to Madagascar in his latest bid to alleviate the growing problem of blindness in the country.

Oliver Backhouse, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Yorkshire Eye Hospital, Harrogate Road, Apperley Bridge, is spearheading a link between West Yorkshire and the Indian Ocean island, where there is chronic blindness among adults and

children.

Mr Backhouse founded the Yorkshire-based Moss (Madagascan Organisation for Saving Sight) charity in 1993. The charity provides materials and funding for cataract surgery and is working to educate people on how to prevent blindness.

The country only has 19 eye specialists for its population of 17 million, even though cataracts, which are easily treatable, account for 60 per cent of adult blindness and a staggering 90 per cent of all child blindness could be

prevented.

Mr Backhouse said: "In addition to a lack of trained professionals, minimal resources and treatment costs, other barriers prevent people from seeking treatment.

"Moss has established links with key communities, including schools and churches, which help to overcome barriers and encourage those affected to prevent further illness and seek treatment."

On his most recent visit he took out vital supplies of equipment and vitamin supplements, as well as copies of a new game which has been devised to educate people on how to prevent blindness.

Mr Backhouse said: "Blindness has a massive social and economic impact and untreated, the problem will become worse.

"Much of the blindness is due to cataracts, a lack of vitamin A and the catastrophic effects of measles. If we can treat this, then a cycle will be broken and communities can begin to recover."