ZEISS Vision Care supports World Sight Day 2023

_{Article first published: October 2023}

This year's World Sight Day is Thursday, October 12, and the global community is focusing attention on the importance of eye care in the workplace. And World Sight Day is always about raising awareness of the fact that many millions of people do not have access to regular eye care, mostly because they live in rural areas in underserved communities. Bringing eye and vision care to the underprivileged and unserved is a goal shared by many companies, eye clinics, eye care professionals, NGOs and dedicated individuals, including ZEISS.

With its Aloka Vision programme, ZEISS focuses on community eye care in underserved rural areas, for underprivileged communities and underprivileged school children in India and Nepal. Community eye care is about bringing partners together and joining forces to create a sustainable impact. Together with partners and colleagues, we are working to scale up our program to serve more and more patients, sustainably, with frequent eye exams, vision testing, and provision of customized eyeglasses and reading glasses. In line with the WHO's guiding principle, we are implementing integrated, people-centered eye care, which means providing services at the point of care, providing quality care, and not only providing eyeglasses, but also treating non-refractive errors such as cataracts.

Launched in 2015/16, the Aloka Vision Programme has now reached the milestone of 1,520,000 patients benefiting from the program, provided 250,000 glasses, helped 18,600 people with non-refractive errors, and reached 5,030 communities and schools. World Sight Day is a welcome opportunity to share some insights and plans.

Aloka has been operational in India since 2015. The team is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka for all field operations, partner relations, supply chain and program development. Today it is led by Dr. Premjeeth Moodbidri with a core team of optometrists and back-office staff. It is supported by the Optometry Council of India, students from optometry colleges, Lions Club volunteers, ophthalmologists, health workers - and our partners: non-governmental organizations committed to promoting clear vision for all.

The entire operation is set up as an independent entity, initiated and supported by ZEISS, but self-governed and working as a partnership network for NGOs, hospitals, and institutions. The Aloka Vision Program is part of ZEISS' social engagement and social business strategy and has been established to contribute to the sustainability goals of the ZEISS Group, which include a commitment to eye care and public health.