Chennai, Tamil Nadu – October 6, 2020 – Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) India and India Vision Institute (IVI) launched a program to provide free access to quality eye care services to 3,000 people from marginalized communities in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Jointly implemented by EVF and IVI over a period of three months, the program offers free vision screening to 3,000 people from marginalized communities including auto-rickshaw drivers, fisherfolks and daily wage workers, and free glasses to those who with refractive errors. Many of these beneficiaries live in semi-urban areas with limited access to eye care services.
The screenings will adhere strictly to COVID-19 health and safety protocols with optometrists wearing full personal protective gear and sanitization processes put in place, ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
According to Essilor’s recently published report, “Eliminating Poor Vision in a Generation”, a roadmap on what it will take to eliminate uncorrected refractive errors by 2050. Uncorrected poor vision is the world’s largest unaddressed disability and a public health crisis today. It affects 1 in 3 or 2.7 billion people, 90% of whom live in developing economies. India has the largest population of people – 0.6 billion – suffering from uncorrected poor vision in the world today.
“Eye conditions, including uncorrected poor vision, is a serious global health issue that won’t improve on its own. That’s why Essilor, together with our dedicated partners like India Vision Institute, will continue to champion eye health and work for the 1 in 3 people who cannot see the world clearly in a socially responsible and safe way during these times of COVID-19,” Milind, Jadhav, Senior Director – Inclusive Business & Philanthropy – South Asia and Trustee of Essilor Vision Foundation India.
“The India government has put out a call in the nation to ensure that essential health services continue to be provided safely to those who require them during the pandemic. We, at India Vision Institute, are heeding the call together with our partners such as Essilor, to provide vision care to everyone, especially those from underserved communities because good vision will help children and adults alike to live up to their full potential and become active contributors to India’s growth,“ Vinod Daniel, CEO India Vision Institute
