Making Vision a Priority: The Critical Need to Integrate Routine Eye Screenings into Primary Healthcare Systems

New Delhi, 16 June, 2025 – Amid growing concern over preventable blindness and vision impairment, experts are urging the integration of eye screenings into routine primary healthcare services. With approximately 8 million people blind and 62 million visually impaired, the country accounts for nearly a quarter of the global burden of vision loss—a crisis that continues to escalate due to delayed detection and treatment of eye conditions.

Currently, most eye diseases are only diagnosed at secondary or tertiary care levels, by which time damage may be irreversible. This systemic gap highlights the need for routine vision screening at the primary level—where most individuals first access healthcare. Early identification of treatable eye conditions can significantly reduce the progression to blindness, lower long-term healthcare costs, and improve quality of life. Routine eye exams also offer a critical opportunity to detect broader systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which often go unnoticed in early stages.

Evidence-based strategies such as training frontline healthcare workers, implementing standardized screening protocols, launching public awareness campaigns, and embedding eye care within existing programs (e.g., maternal health, school health, and chronic disease care) can ensure effective rollout. Additionally, robust data collection, policy support, and sustained funding are essential to monitor impact and scale operations.

“Integrating eye health into primary care is not just a medical imperative—it’s a public health necessity. Far too many people lose their vision due to conditions that could have been prevented or treated early with a simple screening. By building capacity at the grassroots level, embedding eye care into existing health programs, and promoting awareness, we can shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. It’s a cost-effective, life-changing intervention that not only preserves sight but also protects livelihoods, promotes educational attainment, and enhances overall well-being, especially for those in underserved communities”, said Dr Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director, Orbis(India).

With the World Health Organization estimating that 80% of all vision impairment is avoidable, making eye screenings part of basic health check-ups is a vital step toward creating healthier, more resilient communities.