NEWS – Blindness-Free Shivamogga: India’s First Universal Eye Care Initiative

HIGHLIGHTS

• Objective: Ensure no person loses eyesight due to lack of timely treatment
• Unique Feature: First such initiative in India offering free eye treatment to all, not limited to BPL families

Key Features

• Coverage: Entire population (~18 lakh); over 50% may have undiagnosed eye disorders
• Launched by: Zilla Panchayat CEO N Hemanth
• Monitoring & Outreach:
  • Trained ASHA workers visit households
  • Use mobile app to detect symptoms
  • Refer patients to sub-health centres for primary screening
• Further Diagnosis:
  • Eye specialists visit villages via gram panchayats & PHCs
  • Optometrists perform eye tests at sub-health centres

Free Treatment at Reputed Hospitals

• Hospitals involved: Sankara Eye Hospital, Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Prasad Netralaya, Kasturba Medical College (Udupi)
• Diseases treated: Cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy
• Free services: Eye tests, spectacles, medicines, and surgeries

 Significance

• Holistic, inclusive, and proactive model for eye healthcare
• Addresses preventable blindness due to lack of early diagnosis
• May become a national model for universal eye care