Home› Our Work› Causes

Causes

Trachoma
Blindness
Six million people have been blinded by the eye infection trachoma and a staggering 146 million are facing blindness if they do not have access to preventative medication. Every blink of the eye can be incredibly painful as eyelashes scratch the surface of...
Vitamin A Deficiency
Blindness
About 250 million children are showing signs of vitamin A deficiency such as difficulty seeing in poor light, and dry eyes. This year an estimated 350,000 children will go blind and a further two million will die simply from a lack of vitamin A.
Glaucoma
Blindness
What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. If left, the nerve becomes so damaged that blindness occurs. A woman with glaucoma is examined at a CBM-supported project in Benin. Photo: CBM This blindness is usually...
Cataract
Blindness
Cataract is the single largest cause of blindness in the world. It is responsible for blinding half of the world’s blind population - a staggering 18 million people. What Causes a Cataract? A woman with cloudy lenses - a sign of matured bilateral...
River Blindness (Onchocerciasis)
Blindness
River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) is caused by a parasite and can lead to irreversible blindness as well as dermatitis, skin atrophy and skin depigmentisation.
Deafness
Deafness
50% of deafness is preventable! The key to preventing the effects of hearing impairment is education, but so many deaf and hearing impaired children just don't get the chance to go to school. Exclusion Through CBM's work, children like Nikul are able to...
Education
Education
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, only about every tenth child with vision impairment has access to education, mainly because of a lack of special facilities and trained teachers, as well as misconceptions and prejudices. CBM is committed to deliver equal...
CBM in Emergencies
Emergencies
Over the first six months of 2010, in collaboration with our local partners, CBM reached out to more than 10,000 people living with pre-exhisting or newly acquired disabilities, their families and their communities, offering lifesaving and live-sustaining...
Clubfoot
Physical
Clubfoot (or Congenital Talipes Equinovarus) affects 1 child in every 1,000 born around the world. A young child from Papua New Guinea with bilateral clubfoot. Photo: CBM/Mannion
Hydrocephalus
Physical
Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an abnormal build-up of brain fluid in the skull. People born with hydrocephalus often appear to have enlarged craniums, and experience intense pain. Photo: CBM Sometimes known as 'water on the brain', hydrocephalus occurs...