Chennai launches two new Vision Centres, one Mobile Centre for quality eye care

Standard Chartered Global Business Services (GBS) Private Limited, India, has partnered with Sightsavers India to launch two new Vision Centres and one Mobile Vision Centre in Chennai. The two Vision Centres will be funded by GBS Private Limited for uptake of eye health care in the city for four years. Sightsavers India, a development organization working on avoidable blindness and disability inclusion, will partner with India Vision Institute for the two Vision Centres. The intervention aims to identify over 6,000 people with cataract, refer them for surgery, screen over 60,000 people for eye care, and dispenses over 8,000 spectacles over four years. Nearly 2,000 people will also be screened for diabetic retinopathy.
 

The Mobile Vision Centre will be partnered with Sankara Eye Hospital, aiming to refract nearly 30,000 people, dispense 6,000 spectacles, identify over 4,000 cataract patients, and screen 2,000 people for diabetic retinopathy over four years. The mobile van is a fully fitted eye health set-up with a dedicated team, providing affordable eye care services to marginalized urban communities. Sightsavers India has launched two new Vision Centres and a Mobile Vision Centre in Chennai to reduce the prevalence of visual impairment, aligning with the National Programme for the Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI) target. 
 

The initiative, supported by Standard Chartered Global Business Services Private Limited, aims to improve access to eye care services for the underserved population. CEO Vinod Daniel believes vision centres will positively impact people's lives by providing clear vision, increased work opportunities, increased efficiency, and improved productivity.
 

The centres will offer vision screening services and corrective glasses at affordable prices, with free corrective glasses provided to those unable to pay. The mobile vision centre is expected to complement the existing center in Palavakkam.