On the basis of a screening of 6226 patients in western Nepal the most common causes of disease were established. Refraction anomalies and cataract were both found in over 20 percent of the patients, conjunctivitis/dacryocystitis and corneal opacities each in more than 10 percent. Lid conditions, trachoma, pterygium, vitamin A deficiency, glaucoma, iritis, diseases of the fundus and phtisis bulbi were each seen in more than 1 percent of the patients. Problems of treatment are described.