India, with a population of 1.46 billion, is responsible for taking care of
nearly three billion eyes. However, the country’s eye care system faces a big
challenge. There are only 4,500 practising ophthalmologists, most of whom work
in cities. This leaves large rural and semi-urban areas without proper eye care,
causing preventable vision problems.
The growth of optometry can help solve this problem. India has about 42,000
trained optometrists, but it needs more than 100,000 to provide complete
primary eye care.
Optometrists are trained to:
Detect and treat refractive errors (like short-sightedness or long-sightedness)
Identify early cataracts
Screen for diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma
Refer patients for surgical care when needed
Expanding optometry in India can ensure better eye care for people across the country.