Although blindness afflicts more women than men, an equal number of men and women get treatment.

A recent study by the Nepal Gender and Eye Health Group, which followed the treatment of 2.5 million blind patients over the course of two decades, shows that overall women don't receive any more treatment than men although there are twice as many blind female patients as men.

Madan Prasad Upadhyay, president of BP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies says, "Gender bias has played a role."

Sixty per cent of patients were women in 1981, but the figure shot up to 68 per cent in 2001. Upadhyay says this shows how indifferent the government is to women's health concerns.

Although many new hospitals have been built in the country over the last 25 years, women still have limited access to healthcare. However, the number of women eye patients has increased in temporary eye camps. "The government should launch a program focusing on women. Even donors can lay down conditions for 70 per cent female patients in free treatment packages they offer to improve the situation of women," says Upadhyay.