Aloka Vision Programme: Reaching the unserved

_{Article first published: October 2023
Last article update: October 2025}

Aloka has been operational in India since 2015. It has served 4.4 million patients, provided 470,000 individualized glasses, supported ophthalmological treatment for 174,000 patients, and conducted eye camps in 25,999 villages across India. The team is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka for all field operations, partner relations, supply chain, and program development.

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. For sustainable development, Aloka was transformed into a registered non-profit organization as the Aloka Vision Foundation in 2025 and continues to engage in regional activities to ensure long-term optical services in regions of India where there have previously been no opportunities for vision tests and glasses provision. Today it is led by Dr. Premjeeth Moodbidri, Director of Aloka Vision Foundation, with a core team of optometrists and back-office staff. It is supported by ZEISS India, students from optometry colleges, Lions Club volunteers, ophthalmologists, health workers, and our partners: non-governmental organizations committed to promoting clear vision for all.

Two activities the Aloka team is especially proud of are annual Yatras to promote clear vision in remote, rural areas and our collaboration with the Lions Club, screening tens of thousands of kids every school year and providing free glasses for all who need them as well as enabling ophthalmological services if necessary.

In India, a Yatra is a journey with a purpose. At the Aloka Vision Programme, we undertake yatras every year to visit unserved regions, find new partners, and expand our reach. In 2024, the 7th Yatra through the north-east India. Embarking on a journey from Shillong, Meghalaya to Aizawl, Mizoram, we spent 12 days on the road, covering over 600 kilometers and serving 800 villages. During this time, we conducted close to 3000 eye check-ups, provided nearly 1800 free eyeglasses, and made over 300 referrals. Once again, bringing eye care directly to the villages and workplaces of people in need proved to be an effective way to increase the reach and acceptance of eye care for underserved communities. The video captures some impressions from the trip.

The Aloka Vision Programme, in collaboration with Shell India, organizes eye screening camps specifically for drivers. This initiative enables drivers to seamlessly incorporate eye screenings into their work schedules. By providing free eye check-ups, the programme tackles the common issue of drivers neglecting their eye health due to time constraints. This initiative is effectively raising awareness among drivers about the critical importance of caring for their eyes.

Children's work is to learn and get the best education possible. If their eyesight is compromised, this work can be severely impacted, such as myopia and difficulties to follow the teacher. Since eye exams and vision tests are not mandatory in Indian schools, the Aloka Vision Program fills a gap in public healthcare by providing free eye exams, vision tests and eyeglasses to underprivileged children in government schools. Each month, hundreds of underprivileged children are screened, provided with eyeglasses if needed, and referred to partner eye clinics if a more comprehensive eye exam is required.

We've partnered with the Lions Club, Rotary Club and Govt of Karnataka for this school initiative, and it's gratifying to see that so many teachers and students appreciate the work we do together. In addition to vision screenings, the Project Vidya Drishti initiated by Aloka, trains teachers in schools to identify early signs of Vision Anomalies in children. We’ve trained over 600 teachers in 4 states, Karnataka, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Assam who are trained in measuring the visual acuity and provide healthy habits for healthy eyes nutritional counseling to children and parents.

Since the program started, Aloka conducted over 9500 school eye camps, screened over 941,000 people and provided glasses to 80,000 beneficiaries through the Lions Club and Govt of Karnataka partnership in government schools in Karnataka, Goa and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh. Approximately 2,800 children were referred to partner hospitals and eye clinics for further intervention. Once again, the numbers illustrate the great need for these services to be taken directly to those who need them. And the numbers, as well as the impact and appreciation of the schools, teachers, children and Lions Club members for our initiative, motivate ZEISS to continue. This program is supported and co-financed by Miracle of Sight, a registered charity, founded by ZEISS employees to sustainably support Aloka’s purpose. Since 2018, 941,000 screenings and delivery of 80,000 kids glasses could been enabled through it.

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. For sustainable development, the program has been transformed into a registered non-profit organization as the Aloka Vision Foundation since March 2025. As part of the WHO's SPECS 2030 initiative, the Aloka team is involved in regional activities to ensure long-term optical services in regions of India where there have previously been no opportunities for vision tests and glasses provision.