CBM India Advocates Disability-Inclusive Eye Care at VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA Conference

CBM India Pushes for Inclusive Eye Health at National Conference

CBM India reinforced the importance of disability-inclusive eye care during the 20th VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA Annual Conference, held in Bengaluru from July 10 to 12. The conference, hosted by Sankara Eye Foundation in association with VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – INDIA, brought together eye care professionals, policymakers, researchers and development partners to discuss the future of eye health in India under the theme "Innovation, Collaboration and Impact in Eye Care (Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047)".

As one of the founding members of the initiative, CBM India contributed through technical sessions, panel discussions and research presentations focused on strengthening disability-inclusive eye health systems.

Focus on Accessible Eye Care for All

With India progressing towards Universal Health Coverage, the conference highlighted the need to ensure eye care services are accessible to persons with disabilities, elderly citizens and other marginalized communities.

Sony Thomas, Executive Director of CBM India Trust, co-chaired a session titled "Empowering Eye Health: Strategies for Disability Inclusion and Rehabilitation" and participated in a panel discussion on "From Gaps to Action: Priorities for Inclusive Eye Health in India."

During the discussions, he stressed that disability inclusion should be integrated throughout the planning and implementation of eye health programmes rather than treated as a separate initiative. He also underscored the importance of removing physical, communication, attitudinal and financial barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing quality eye care.

Ravi Ranganathan, Director – Programs at CBM India, delivered the concluding remarks during the technical session.

Research and Scalable Eye Care Models Presented

Vinoo Mathew, Chief – Development & Sustainability at CBM India, participated in a panel discussion on Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), highlighting how sustained philanthropic funding, corporate social responsibility (CSR) support and public-private partnerships can strengthen awareness, screening and treatment services across India.

Sathish Nagappan, Project Manager at CBM India, presented findings on the effectiveness and scalability of the organisation's Inclusive Vision Center model. Drawing evidence from 127 vision centres, the presentations covered financial sustainability and the Social Return on Investment of inclusive eye care programmes.

Building Inclusive Eye Health Systems

"Inclusive eye health is about ensuring that every individual can access quality eye care with dignity and without barriers. As India progresses towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, building inclusive eye health systems is no longer optional. With India's ageing population growing rapidly and global estimates indicating that nearly 15% of people live with some form of disability, accessibility and inclusion must become integral to the country's eye health ecosystem," said Sony Thomas, Executive Director, CBM India.

Expanding Access Across India

According to CBM India, its inclusive eye health initiatives reached 14 states during 2024-25. The organisation facilitated eye screenings for more than 16.5 lakh people, supported over 3,200 cataract surgeries, trained healthcare providers and frontline workers, and expanded access to disability-inclusive eye care through partnerships with governments, hospitals and community organisations.

CBM India reiterated that achieving equitable eye health requires integrating eye care into primary healthcare systems, strengthening community-based services and embedding accessibility into every stage of programme design and delivery. The organisation said it will continue to promote research, institutional capacity building and collaborative partnerships to ensure quality eye care reaches those most at risk of being left behind.

(Inputs from Press Release)