6 NGOs Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Vision Health

Access to quality eye care remains limited across many parts of India, particularly for children and marginalised communities. Fortunately, a number of NGOs are bridging this gap by leveraging technology to deliver affordable, high-quality vision care. Through teleophthalmology, mobile screening units, and digital training for local professionals, these organisations are using innovation to prevent avoidable blindness and make eye health more accessible and equitable for all.

1. Mission for Vision: Established in 2000, Mission for Vision (MFV) is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating avoidable blindness. Over the past two decades, MFV has enabled more than 2.2 million eye surgeries and partnered with 24 reputed eye hospitals across 110 districts in 16 Indian states to extend quality, affordable eye care to underserved communities. Guided by the philosophy of “Caring Capitalism” as envisioned by its founder Jagdish M. Chandrai, MFV combines compassion with sustainability, ensuring equitable access to vision care. With a strong focus on quality, cost efficiency, and inclusivity, MFV continues to strengthen institutions and pioneer community-based initiatives that restore sight and transform lives.

2. Seva Foundation: Seva Foundation is a global nonprofit eye care organization that works with local communities around the world to develop self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight. They partner with underserved communities especially women, children and indigenous peoples to train eye-care providers, deliver critical services and tackle the belief that restoring sight is key to reducing suffering and poverty. Seva has provided surgeries, eyeglasses, medicine, and other eye care services to 72 million people in more than 20 countries.

3. Orbis India: Orbis India is the Indian arm of Orbis International, a global non-profit dedicated to eliminating avoidable blindness. Since establishing its India office, Orbis has focused on childhood blindness, refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, and corneal blindness. Through its network of Children’s Eye Centres, digital training programs, and sustainable models like Green Vision Centres, Orbis India provides accessible, high-quality eye care while building local capacity. Partnering with hospitals, government systems, and communities, it has screened millions of children and trained thousands of eye-care professionals, ensuring long-term, scalable impact across the country.

4. Operation Eyesight: Operation Eyesight work with existing health systems to improve access to eye health care, including our referral network of 35+ partner hospitals in India, which help patients get the eye operation and advanced care they need. Through programs like school eye health, water and sanitation projects, and health education, they address the root causes of avoidable vision loss, such as poverty, poor sanitation and gender inequality.

5. Sankara Eye Foundation: Founded in 1985 under the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust by Dr. R.V. Ramani and Dr. Radha Ramani, Sankara Eye Foundation was established to address the high burden of preventable and curable blindness in India. Guided by the philosophy “Thamasoma Jyothir Gamaya” (Lead us from darkness to light), it has grown into one of India’s largest providers of eye care. With a strong focus on quality, affordability, and accessibility, the Foundation has performed over 1 million vision-restoring surgeries and continues to be a preferred and recognized leader in community eye care across the country.

6. Vision 2020: The Right to Sight – India: VISION 2020: The Right to Sight- INDIA is a registered not-for-profit forum and is a key driver of the global initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) for reducing avoidable visual impairment by year 2020. It is a collaborative effort of INGOs, NGOs, eye care organizations in India and the Government to coordinate and advocate for improved eye care programs; to gain and share knowledge and together develop solutions to achieve quality, comprehensive and equitable eye care. We are governed by a Board of 17 members.

These NGOs are not just advancing healthcare they are driving innovation and inclusion by harnessing technology to bring vision care within everyone’s reach. Through digital tools, telemedicine, and smart collaborations, they are transforming how eye care is delivered, ensuring that every individual in India can access a clearer, brighter future through the power of technology.