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Millions live too far from eye care services - and most cannot afford them.

About the project

Quality, primary eye care is coming to the heart of India’s communities in need - thanks to our project to bring ten Vision Centres to Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

With our partners Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya (SNC), our vision centres will give local access to eye care treatment, for people living in remote areas far from healthcare facilities and hospitals.

India has an estimated 15 million blind – and the highest number of blind children in the world. But up to 80% of this is blindness can be prevented or treated by simple surgery or prescription spectacles.

Millions suffer blindness because of a lack of quality, accessible eye care services. Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have high rates of total blindness – above the national average. Access to eye care facilities and trained professionals is limited.

Vision Centres provide sight-saving treatments to people in the heart of their communities. Screening for potentially blinding eye diseases, spectacles and further treatment referrals are also provided. Working as ‘satellites’ with base hospitals, vision centres mean we can reach and help more people in need.

This project will address refractive errors, cataract and avoidable causes of childhood blindness.

By the end of this project, we will have provided:

• 10 Vision Centres serving the 50,000-strong population
• Primary eye care services, as recommended by Vision 2020: The Right to Sight Plan of Action
• Training for community health workers, support for research studies/surveys
• Village screening and school eye screening programmes
• Restored sight for thousands and reduced refractive error blindness
• Awareness through health promotion.

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