In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, it is evident that nearly 90 per cent of vision loss is either treatable or preventable. Yet, there are 1.1 billion people globally living with vision loss, and this number is projected to rise to 1.7 billion by 2050.
The major contributors to vision loss include uncorrected refractive errors, cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
India has made significant efforts to curb preventable blindness over the years, but the goal is still not fully achieved. More than 90 per cent of those affected belong to low- and middle-income regions, with 73 per cent aged 50 years or above and 55 per cent being women. With improved life expectancy, an ever-growing population, and an increasing proportion of elderly citizens, billions will require eye care services during their lifetime.
According to 2020 data, India, with a population of 1.38 billion, had 270 million people living with vision loss and 9.2 million who were blind. This translates into an overall vision loss rate of 19.3 per cent, placing India among the countries with the highest prevalence of visual impairment.
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) launched Vision 2030 with the mission to eliminate preventable blindness and achieve universal eye health through integrated, community-based eye care that is accessible, affordable, and of high quality.
The main pillar of Vision 2030 in India is to provide accessible eye care services, especially in remote areas. A vast majority of visual impairment can be tackled with periodic screening, awareness programme and early diagnosis (for glaucoma, refractive error, and diabetic retinopathy), simple prescription of glasses (for refractive error), and timely referral to tertiary centres (for glaucoma, cataract, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy).
Outreach camps have played an important role in minimising preventable blindness over the years, but follow-ups remain difficult to manage in such settings. Therefore, strengthening primary Vision Centres (VCs) is crucial for early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, particularly in cases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Further these small centres need to be linked with secondary or tertiary eye care centre for further treatment management. These vision centres will play a vital role in follow ups. A Vision Centre typically serves a population of 20,000–50,000 within a radius of 7–10 km and is manned only by 1–3 trained ophthalmic technicians.
One of the biggest reason for late treatment is lack of awareness. Many people believe that poor vision is “normal with age” or simply live with avoidable sight loss . Illiteracy plays a hidden role. National and local campaign in local languages, using community health workers, schools , and even panchayat meetings can change this. The message must be simple – vision loss is not fate and timely treatment can restore the sight.
Need to maximizing the usage of technology as now we have hand held equipment that can be carried out easily. These innovations can take quality care to remote areas, untouched corner of India. Country is already experiencing the tele ophthalmology, AI based retinal images, cataract scanning through mobile (AI -Based), diagnostic mobile vans.
In urban areas also, need to build the workforce partnerships with various organisations specially manufacturing units. India does not lack expertise but the distribution of ophthalmic experts is heavily skewed heavily. Training of Vision technicians and ensuring they are deployed in sub urban and rural areas will be crucial. Public- Private partnership with NGOs and charitable hospitals can accelerate this.
Curing avoidable blindness is not just about surgeries but this is the questions about equality , awareness and accessibility. Restoring sight is more than a medical act, it restores dignity , independence. It is about LEADING FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT often called “Tamso-maa-Jyotirgamay” We just need to be committed to this vision, India can ensure that no citizen of India is left in darkness when blindness can be cured or prevented.