Sightsavers India, in collaboration with Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals, is strengthening access to quality eye care for underserved communities in Ahmedabad through its Urban Eye Health Programme. The initiative specifically targets low-income neighbourhoods, focusing on migrant workers and families living in urban slums who often face significant barriers to timely care.
Reaching the Underserved Through Focused Intervention
From April 2025 to March 2026, the programme delivered essential eye care services directly to communities. During this period, teams screened 14,290 individuals, distributed 2,032 spectacles, and identified 2,314 people with cataract for referral. In addition, they screened 686 individuals for diabetic retinopathy, ensuring early detection of potentially sight-threatening conditions.
Addressing Urban Healthcare Gaps
Rapid urbanisation has led to the expansion of densely populated settlements where healthcare access remains uneven. Although hospitals may be geographically close, socio-economic and structural barriers often delay or prevent individuals from seeking timely eye care. Therefore, the programme prioritises accessibility by bringing services closer to those in need.
CSR Support Strengthens Preventive Care Efforts
Through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals actively supported the programme. This collaboration highlights the growing importance of preventive and primary eye care in building healthier communities.
RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, emphasised that clear vision significantly impacts daily life. He noted that simple interventions, such as providing spectacles or facilitating cataract treatment, can restore independence and improve quality of life. Furthermore, he pointed out that delivering services directly to communities through mobile units helps overcome barriers related to time, cost, and accessibility.
Similarly, a spokesperson from Maxivision highlighted the critical role of preventive care. The partnership enabled early detection of vision problems and ensured timely treatment by extending services beyond hospital settings into underserved communities.
Mobile Vision Centre: Bringing Care to Communities
At the core of the initiative is the Mobile Vision Centre, which delivers primary eye care services directly to underserved areas. The mobile clinic operates across multiple neighbourhoods in Ahmedabad, conducting outreach screening camps based on a detailed slum mapping exercise.
Equipped with essential diagnostic tools, trained teams identify refractive errors, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy. As per the press release, they provide spectacles to individuals with refractive errors and refer patients requiring advanced care to partner hospitals.
Community Engagement Drives Participation
A dedicated team comprising a project coordinator, optometrist, and community health worker supports on-ground activities. Before each screening camp, the team conducts community mobilisation through announcements, local meetings, and distribution of informational materials. As a result, participation increases, particularly among women, elderly individuals, and other vulnerable groups.
Strengthening Urban Eye Health Systems
Through this sustained partnership, Sightsavers India and Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals continue to strengthen urban eye health systems. Moreover, they ensure that essential services reach populations that need them the most, thereby promoting equitable access to eye care.