Preventing eye disease through community outreach

A community health worker in Assam, India discusses eye health with a man outside of his home during a door-to-door survey.

For most of her life, Napolo from Narok County, Kenya suffered from eye pain. The 78-year-old first noticed the discomfort when she was in her thirties. She said it felt like there was always sand in her eyes. Then her eyelids started turning inwards, causing more pain and irritation. She tried traditional remedies like plucking… Continue reading Preventing eye disease through community outreach

Community health worker breaks down barriers with empathy before eye charts

Community health worker Robiroy poses with a patient outside of a home in Meghalaya, India. Photo: Emmanuel Benia Tanti / Program Manager, India.

In the hills of Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi District, Robiroy, a young community health worker from Nongpoh Vision Centre, was assigned to serve 47 villages with a population of more than 16,000. Initially, he encountered skepticism from the community, as people feared medical interventions or had misconceptions. For many, fading vision was simply part of growing old.… Continue reading Community health worker breaks down barriers with empathy before eye charts

Eyesight is “priceless”: Patient embraces restored independence

Horibala, from the village of Godashimla, Bangladesh, likes to keep busy. The 65-year-old finds joy and motivation in her favourite pastimes: sewing and travel. But for years, she was unable to enjoy these activities as her eyes clouded over with cataracts. “I couldn’t see at all,” she recalls. “Even when I closed one eye to… Continue reading Eyesight is “priceless”: Patient embraces restored independence

The role of eye care in preventing poverty

For most of his adult life, Abraham made a living as a cobbler, supporting his wife and raising six children on his earnings. But several years ago, he started having trouble threading needles. Initially, he pricked himself repeatedly, and eventually, he couldn’t get the needles threaded at all. Due to his poor eyesight, Abraham had… Continue reading The role of eye care in preventing poverty