TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF EXISTING VISION CENTERS ON THE POPULATION AND ANALYZE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
Publishing Date : 2024
ISBN : 978-81-970408-2-5
Pages : 15
Chapter id : IIHMR/GRF/EB/BPHHM/2024/Ch-04
Abstract : A "Vision Centre" serves as a permanent eye care facility within the community, acting as the initial point of contact for comprehensive eye care services provided by a skilled eye care worker. This center aims to intensify efforts in delivering primary eye care to the community while ensuring access to complete eye care services, including secondary and tertiary care through tele-ophthalmology and referrals to base hospitals. The establishment of these centers enables the collection of vital demographic and eye care information for impact assessment. By enhancing accessibility and facility quality, the primary objective is to provide basic eye care to rural populations. Key goals include advanced eye care in remote areas lacking specialist doctors, eliminating the need for patients to travel to tertiary facilities for basic eye care, establishing permanent infrastructure for community eye health care, raising awareness about eye care in rural communities, and serving as a continuous destination for affordable eye care with outreach camps. Sankara Eye Hospital in Coimbatore operates four such Vision Centers, each contributing to the hospital's mission. The centers are equipped with advanced tools such as Remidio for detecting anterior and posterior segment conditions, a smartphone for high-resolution imaging, a sphygmomanometer, glucometer, and a vision chart for basic visual acuity. The Vision Centre's dedicated team comprises a trained vision technician and a counselor [1] [2].
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- VISION CENTRES – Affordable & accessible community level eye care (May 2010). International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Retrieved from https://www.iapb.org/wp-content/uploads/Vision-Centre-Model-BP.pdf
- A VISION 2020: The Right to Sight INDIA Publication (2011). Vision Centre Manual. Retrieved from http://www.vision2020india.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Vision-Centre-Manual-2012.pdf
- Kovai V., Rao G. N., Holden B. (2012). Key factors determining success of primary eye care through vision centres in rural India: Patients’ perspectives. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 60(5), 487–491. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.100558
Misra V., Vashist P., Malhotra S., Gupta S. K. (2015). Models for Primary Eye Care Services in India. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 40(2), 79–84. doi: 10.4103/0970-0218.153868
