In the first phase, around one million free reading glasses will be distributed to 216 government health facilities in Yadgir.
The state government has partnered with RestoringVision to implement a program aimed at providing free vision screening and reading glasses to citizens aged 40 years and above across the state, starting with Yadgir district.
The initiative, implemented through the Ayushman Arogya Mandir sub-centre, is the first such collaboration in India to address presbyopia on a large scale at the sub-centre level. In the first phase, around one million free reading glasses will be distributed to 216 government health facilities in Yadgir, comprising hospitals, community health centres, primary health centers and sub-centres.
Nearly 3.28 lakh residents aged 40 and above in the district are expected to benefit from the scheme. Officials said Yadgir was chosen for the pilot project because the initial supply is sufficient to meet the district’s near vision correction needs.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia, the age-related decline in the ability to focus on near objects, is the leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. Health officials estimate that nearly 28% of Yadgir’s population is affected by the condition, which can be corrected with simple reading glasses.
The program design draws on the recommendations of a joint team of the World Health Organization and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences following a field assessment of the ASHA Kirana model in Karnataka in October 2025. The team proposed the creation of a sustainable presbyopia screening system at the primary care level through trained community health personnel.
Under the initiative, individuals with good distance vision but difficulty with near vision will be screened at the community level and provided with reading glasses if deemed eligible. Officials noted that more than 30% of adults over 40 who require such a fix currently lack access.
The program will be implemented with the support of iDrishti, which will oversee the training of community health workers and nurse midwives, supply logistics and monitoring. Beneficiary data will be recorded digitally through the state’s glasses application.
Health workers, including ASHA staff, will also conduct door-to-door screening as part of the outreach.
Officials said the initiative is designed to be rolled out across the state in subsequent phases, with the Karnataka model expected to serve as a model for the rest of the region.
Published – 03 Apr 2026 21:16 IST
