The Three A's Of Eyecare

Availability, affordability and awareness are the three key A's to help break down the barriers for addressing uncorrected refractive error (URE), tells Ella Gudwin, President, VisionSpring, to Prathiba Raju

- Prathiba Raju

Why do you think eye health should be a public health priority in a developing country like India?

Poor Vision remains number one unmet disability need worldwide and in India, too. According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) study (2013), over 550 million people in India need eyeglasses and 25 per cent of the world’s blind population reside in India. The problem in India needs attention right now. In a recent programme assessment for truck drivers, we found that 68 per cent of drivers had never undergone an eye examination prior to receiving or renewing their driving license. Across communities in India, we have found the first-time glasses wearer rate is between 50-70 per cent, i.e. for many in India, their first experience with preventive eye care is at a VisionSpring programme camp.

What are the barriers to Uncorrected Refractive Error (URE) and how can these be addressed?

Loss of clear vision is sometimes gradual and thus it is de-prioritised over others which are more urgent healthcare needs. Lack of awareness, lack of eye care infrastructure, minimal access to affordable eyewear and cost are the major barriers faced by low-income people globally. Moreover, these barriers are heightened for those who belong to rural communities. For rural communities, the cost of correcting vision includes income loss, travel costs to the nearest urban eye care centre, besides treatment and eyeglasses expenses. Also, social stigma continues to be a barrier, especially for young women who need corrective eye wear.