In the first phase, about one lakh reading glasses will be distributed free of cost across 216 government health facilities in Yadgir.
The State government has partnered with RestoringVision to roll out a programme aimed at providing free vision screening and reading glasses to citizens aged 40 years and above across the State, beginning with Yadgir district.
The initiative, implemented through Ayushman Arogya Mandir Sub Centres, marks the first such collaboration in India to address presbyopia at scale at the sub-centre level. In the first phase, about one lakh reading glasses will be distributed free of cost across 216 government health facilities in Yadgir, covering hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and sub-centres.
The programme is expected to benefit nearly 3.28 lakh residents aged 40 and above in the district. Officials said Yadgir was chosen for the pilot as the initial supply is sufficient to meet the district’s near-vision correction needs.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia, an age-related decline in the ability to focus on nearby objects, is a leading cause of vision impairment globally. Health officials estimate that nearly 28% of Yadgir’s population is affected by the condition, which can be corrected with simple reading glasses.
The programme design draws on recommendations made by a joint team involving the World Health Organization and All India Institute of Medical Sciences following a field assessment of Karnataka’s ASHA Kirana model in October 2025. The team had suggested establishing 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 in near vision will be screened at the community level and provided reading glasses, if found eligible. Officials noted that over 30% of adults above 40 who require such correction currently lack access.
The programme will be implemented with support from iDrishti, which will oversee training of Community Health Officers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, supply logistics, and monitoring. Beneficiary data will be recorded digitally through the State’s spectacle application.
Health workers, including ASHA staff, will also undertake door-to-door screening as part of the outreach.
Officials said the initiative is designed to be scaled up across the State in subsequent phases, with Karnataka’s model expected to serve as a template for other region.
Published – April 03, 2026 09:16 pm IST
