Optician India

Report on Addressing Uncorrected Refractive Error in India shows the way forward

Addressing Uncorrected Refractive Error in India, released highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy, focusing on increasing public awareness, enhancing the quality of optometry education, and integrating technology to address the growing challenge of Uncorrected Refractive Error (URE) in India.

The Report is brought out by India Vision Institute (IVI), an NGO working to augment the primary eye capacity of the country, in consultation with stakeholders. It is co-authored by IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel and Ramachandran P, Chair, IVI Advisory Committee, and produced after extensive consultations and meetings.

IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel said “The report stresses the urgent need for comprehensive measures to tackle Uncorrected Refractive Error in India focusing on raising public awareness, improving optometry education, and integrating technology to address the challenge.”

URE remains the leading cause of vision impairment in India, impacting 59% of adults and 7.5% of children. With more than 200 million people lacking access to corrective eyewear, the resulting economic loss in India exceeds INR 1 lakh crore annually. Research shows that correcting refractive errors can boost productivity by 32% and increase individual income by 33%.

Cultural stigmas surrounding the use of spectacles, coupled with low public awareness and the high cost of eyewear, further limit access to vision care.

The Report has called for addressing the shortage of eye care professionals with an additional 100,000 optometrists and technicians, particularly in underserved rural areas. It has recommended, among other things, enhancing Optometry education. By strengthening curricula and expanding training programs, India can produce highly skilled optometrists, ensuring they remain in the field and provide essential services, particularly in rural areas where access to eye care is limited.

Despite the challenges, the Indian optical industry presents opportunities for growth. The country’s optical retail market, valued at $3-3.5 billion, is expanding rapidly, with the potential to significantly improve refractive error coverage (REC) through the availability of affordable eyewear.

The RE2030 Report highlights the role of fostering collaboration and stronger partnerships between government bodies, NGOs, optical companies, and academic institutions to address URE more comprehensively.

It sees a good opportunity for India to attain greater strides towards improving refractive error coverage by 2030, by aligning itself with the World Health Organization’s SPECS 2030 global initiative that aims for a 40% increase in effective coverage of refractive error by 2030.

Leveraging technology, including implementing telemedicine platforms and AI tools, is emphasised to facilitate remote vision screenings and care, improving access to eye health services.

The report calls for boosting local manufacturing to reduce dependence on imports so as to ensure that affordable, quality spectacles are more accessible to the public.

By fostering collaboration, embracing technology, and strengthening local manufacturing, India has a unique opportunity to significantly reduce uncorrected refractive error and improve the quality of life for millions. Together, stakeholders must act swiftly to meet these goals by 2030.