More than 1,000,000 people in Bangladesh suffer from blindness; of that 74.6% are blind due to cataract and 18.7% due to refractive error. Across the country, there is only 32.8% coverage for cataract surgery services, 626 ophthalmologists and 618 mid-level eye care personnel. Hospitals with ophthalmic operating theatres are all based in major cities. The nearest eye care service to Beanibazar/Golapganj Upazila is an hour drive away either in Sylhet city or the Moulvibazar sub-district. There are no primary eye care services in the local region and the population have to rely on alternate medicine or informal healthcare provided by untrained local people. It is common practice to use eye drops for reduced vision over the age of 30.