Promote cataract blindness backlog-free villages/communities

India is home to over 20 per cent of the world’s blind population. Approximately 18 million people in India are living with blindness. Sadly, over 90 per cent of these people lost their sight due to avoidable reasons. Cataract is the major cause of blindness across the globe, predominantly seen in those 50 years of age or older. In India, two out of three people who are blind have lost their vison due to cataract, a condition that can be treated through surgery. Even worse, up to 92 per cent of cataract patients remain blind due to a variety reasons. In many cases, people don’t have access to eye health services or even realize that their condition can be cured. If eye health services are available, often times people aren’t aware of them, or they cannot afford to pay for them.

For many years, Operation Eyesight has been working to bring quality, affordable eye health care services closer to communities. Our work is critical now more than ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges when it comes to providing quality eye care services. Restrictions suspended most of the eye care services in India for more than 12 months over the last two years. Even when these restrictions were lifted, many people were afraid to travel to a facility for help, and patient traffic at hospitals reduced significantly. All of this had led to a surge in untreated cataract cases.

Our Approach to address the Number of Cataract cases

Operation Eyesight and our partners will address the cataract backlog using our community-based approach. Community health workers, trained by Operation Eyesight, will conduct door-to-door eye screenings in the target areas. Patients identified will be referred to a nearby vision centre (primary eye centre) or to one of Operation Eyesight’s partner hospitals. We’ll ensure that patients receive transportation to and from the hospital, and that they receive regular pre- and post-follow up care to ensure the timeliness and quality of their treatment. In addition, we’ll monitor and evaluate the project activities and provide our generous donors with an update.

We’re currently focusing our efforts on seven High Focus States (Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Assam) where there is a high prevalence of blindness and visual impairment among people aged 50 and above. Across these states, a total of 5,000 patients living in our program areas are in need of cataract surgery but cannot afford the high cost of the procedure. Of these, nearly 80 per cent may go permanently blind if their treatment continues to be delayed.

Goal: Promote cataract blindness backlog-free villages/communities in selected areas

Objective: Provide cataract surgical services for seniors in need in the intervention areas.

Target beneficiaries:

List names of the project with number of cataract surgeries and name of partner hospitals

1. Rotary Eye and ENT Hospital, Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir - 300
2. Vivekananda Netralaya, Dehradun, Uttarakhand - 500
3. JL Rohatgi Memorial Eye Hospital, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh - 900
4. CL Gupta Eye Institute, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh - 1000
5. Sewa Sadan Eye Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - 1000
6. Trilochan Netralaya, Sambhalpur, Odisha - 300
7. Sri Sai Lions Netralaya, Patna, Bihar - 500
8. Chandraprabha Eye Hospital, Jorhat, Assam - 200
9. Sri Sankaradeva Netralaya, Guwahati, Assam - 300

The sight-saving surgery will clear the backlog of cataract in 5,000 patients across seven High Focus States of India. With their vision restored, individuals will no longer have to depend on their family members for support. They’ll have the opportunity to work or help care for their families, enjoy their favourite activities and watch their grandchildren grow up. More importantly, seniors won’t be isolated at home anymore; they’ll be able to participate in and contribute to their family and community. Their overall health and well-being will improve, and their entire family and community will be stronger as result. 

The support will also help the partner hospitals to kickstart the provision of free surgeries, which will increase the patient flow to the base hospitals in turn adding to the sustainability of the partner hospital.