Restoring Vision, Restoring Dignity: How Rural Eye Care Changes Lives
For thousands of rural families, poor vision is not just a medical issue it affects livelihood, mobility, learning, and confidence. Many elderly villagers spend years living with blurred eyesight, thinking it is a normal part of ageing. Students struggle to read the blackboard. Daily wage workers avoid treatment due to cost and distance. At Shivshree Foundation, our Drishti Raksha Prakalp is built to bridge exactly this gap. Through free eye check-up camps, screenings, spectacle distribution, and surgery support, we bring accessible eye care directly to the people who need it the most. Vision restoration does more than improve eyesight it restores dignity, independence, and livelihood. It gives the elderly their freedom back. It gives children clarity in learning. It gives families a chance to live without avoidable blindness.
HOW OUR EYE CAMPS TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES
Our camps are organised in remote villages across the Latur region, where medical facilities are limited. Every camp includes:
Qualified ophthalmologists
Basic diagnostic tools
On-spot distribution of spectacles
Referral support for surgeries
Awareness sessions on eye health
These camps help identify early-stage cataracts, refractive errors, and other treatable conditions that often go unnoticed for years.
KEY BENEFITS FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT
- Free screening for early detection
- Immediate distribution of spectacles
- Referral for cataract surgeries
- Post-treatment guidance for patients
A major strength of the programme is our partnership with Vivekanand Hospital, ensuring surgeries are carried out safely and at minimal or no cost under government schemes.
We coordinate transportation, documentation, and follow up care so that the patient feels supported throughout the entire journey. Our volunteers visit homes, track recovery, and ensure seniors understand postoperative care. This personalised support builds trust and enables long-lasting community relationships.
INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY EYE CARE DELIVERY
Our team uses mobile diagnostic kits, enabling vision testing even in hamlets with no electricity or infrastructure. This allows us to screen large populations in a short time. We also collaborate with local schools to conduct child screenings, ensuring students receive spectacles early and do not fall behind in learning.
Awareness sessions on preventive eye care are now part of every camp. Simple guidance like avoiding constant mobile brightness, protecting eyes from dust, and recognising early symptoms goes a long way in reducing avoidable issues.We are also introducing digital patient records to streamline follow-up and long-term care.
A CLEARER TOMORROW FOR RURAL MAHARASHTRA
Every spectacle distributed, every cataract removed, every patient guided is a step toward a healthier, more confident community.
The Drishti Raksha Prakalp is not just a healthcare initiative; it is a promise that no one should live in darkness when help is possible.
Our mission continues village by village, family by family, life by life.