The study has been published in peer review scientific journal, PLOS (in ophthalmology).The survey was conducted from 2015 to 2019 by Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences of the AIIMS, in collaboration with the Union health ministry, using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) method.Prevalence of blindness was higher among females than males in all districts except Khera (Gujarat), Birbhum (West Bengal), and Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh), where prevalence among males was higher.Principal investigator of the survey and officer in charge of community ophthalmology of Dr RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, Dr Praveen Vashist, said untreated cataract continues to be the most common cause of blindness and visual impairment in adults aged 50 years or more despite nearly 65 lakh cataract surgeries conducted in India, with an average cataract surgical rate of nearly 5,000 per 10 lakh population per year.“After such findings, it was suggested we conduct 2.7 crore surgeries in the next three years, under GOI initiative, to reduce the prevalence rate of blindness,” he added."