Diseases of the eye comprise approximately from 5 to 6 per cent of all diseases in Ukraine. Trachoma and occupational diseases and industrial trauma of the eye are the dominant problems that interest ophthalmologists, scientific institutions and the Ukrainian Public Health Service, because these diseases represent a large percentage of those concerned in the etiology of blindness.
Ocular diseases due to occupation and industrial trauma have increased considerably during recent years. Many factories and various new buildings have been opened in Ukraine during the last few years. This industrial development necessitates additional workers who come, untrained, from the country to the city, and their lack of acquaintance with modern machinery is the main cause of the increase in trauma and occupational diseases.
The scientific work in this branch of medicine now occupies a more important position in ophthalmologic institutions and in the ophthalmologic departments of the special