CBM India with the support of Fullerton India has equipped two more vision centres in Haryana and Karnataka in their fight to reduce avoidable blindness and vision impairment in rural India.

These would be the first primary screening facilities initiated by RIO Rohtak and RIO Bangalore at primary health centres in rural districts. The inclusive vision centres situated in these rural areas will cater to the most vulnerable communities, including people with disabilities.

These vision centres will be fully equipped with screening equipment and will be manned by a trained optometrist. The centre will also engage a community mobilizer, who would be responsible for building awareness and making the community member’s testing experience easy and comfortable. 

Spectacles would be provided free of cost for those in need and for those who require surgery (in case of cataract, glaucoma, corneal blindness etc) would be referred to the nearest RIOs.

There are 18 Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology (RIO’s) in India. CBM has partnered with RIO’s over the years to support development of low vision services with equipment and training.

With the support of Fullerton India, CBM’s collaboration with RIO Rohtak and RIO Bangalore will help integrate eye care into the health system and look to benefit over one lakh population in the two areas.