VisionSpring Foundation (VSF) Activity Report: 1st January 2020 to 31st March 2020
Mission:
To provide eye-screening, primary eye-care services, and eye-health advice to the people at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid.
Current Scenario:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, more than 700 million people in the developing world struggle with poor life quality due to bad eyesight. It is estimated that uncorrected vision results in $227 billion in lost productivity to the global economy. 1.1 billion globally need eyeglasses for near vision correction and their vision can be restored with just a simple pair of reading glasses.
In India alone, an estimated 550 million (55 Crore) people require eyeglasses for vision correction. Blurry vision compromises one’s ability to work effectively, to read and learn in school, and to navigate surroundings with ease and safety. For many living in developing countries suffering from vision loss, a pair of eyeglasses could mean the difference between opportunity and loss of income and quality of life.
Activities:
VisionSpring Foundation (VSF) is an NGO (not-for-profit) that does eye-screening for the poor people, provides primary eye-care services, and eye-health advice with FCRA Registration Number: 231661855. VSF also has the facility of providing eyeglasses to those who need them. VSF conducts community outreach activities and free eye-screening camps. The mobile eye-care units (vans) go to the remote interiors and provide last mile vision-care services to the poor. VSF also provides eye-care/eye-health advice centres and refers patients with complex eye diseases (such as cataract, etc.) to the nearest eye hospital. VSF helps change the lives of the poor people in India by aiding in restoring their vision.
VisionSpring Foundation (VSF) received a grant amount of USD 5,24,962 from 1st January 2020 to 31st March 2020:
Social Impact and Outcomes:
1. Provided feeling of immediate well-being.
2. Improved quality of life and efficiency.
3. Direct tangible socio-economic benefit to the handloom workers and weavers of Sambalpur, Odisha, India.
4. Productivity increase of up to 32% as per the previously conducted studies.
Key Highlights: Sambalpur Eye-Screenings
1. Distribution of the population screened: Screened a total of 1,336 weavers and artisans among them 64% (n = 856) were males and 36% (n = 480) were females.
2. Refractive error (poor vision) rate among the screened population: 49% (n = 651) of all the screened individuals identified with refractive error/presbyopia.
3. Referrals made among the screened population: 16% (n = 215) identified with suspected cataract and 11% (n = 146) with other complex eye diseases.
4. Distribution of Eyeglasses: 93% (n = 604) of all population identified with a refractive error received eyeglasses. Readers: 74% (n = 444); Prescription (Rx) Glasses: 26% (n = 160).
5. First Time Wearers: 85% (n = 515) of all population who received their eyeglasses got their first pair of eyeglasses through the eye-screening camps.
6. Pre-Coverage Rate in the population was 17%; Post-Coverage Rate in the population became 93%.
Key Data Points: The following graphs provide additional details on the data points collected.
Social Impact and Outcomes:
1. Provided feeling of immediate well-being.
2. Improved quality of life and efficiency.
3. Direct tangible socio-economic benefits.
4. Productivity increase of up to 32% as per the previously conducted studies.
Key Highlights: Assam Eye-Screenings
1. Distribution of population screened: Screened a total of 1,582 tea garden workers and among them 51% (n =811) were males and 49% (n = 771) were females.
2. Refractive error (poor vision) rate among the screened population: 70% (n = 1,112) of all the screened individuals identified with refractive error/presbyopia.
3. Referrals made among the screened population: 11% (n = 175) identified with suspected cataract and 5% (n = 81) with other complex eye diseases.
4. Eyeglasses distribution: 94% (n = 1,045) of all population identified with a refractive error received eyeglasses. Readers: 30% (n = 310); Prescription (Rx) Glasses: 70% (n = 735).
5. First Time Wearers: 88% (n = 919) of all population who received their eyeglasses got their first pair of eyeglasses through the eye-screening camps.
6. Pre-Coverage Rate in the population was 14%; Post-Coverage Rate in the population became 94%.
Key Data Points: The following graphs provide additional details on the data points collected.
Project Background and Plan:
VisionSpring conducted the eye-screenings in the Tea Gardens in Assam, India, for tea tribes and provided eyeglasses to those who required the same.
Project Background and Plan:
Sambalpur is a famous handloom/weaving cluster in western region of Odisha, India. VisionSpring conducted eye-screenings for handloom workers/weavers and provide eyeglasses to those who required them. VisionSpring created awareness about eye health and referred people requiring cataract surgery and other complex eye diseases to Government/other hospitals in the area for further diagnosis and potential treatment.
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