Cataract is the leading cause of avoidable blindness in India, with its impact expected to increase significantly due to the country’s rapidly aging population and unmet need for eye care services. Chronic eye conditions and posterior segment diseases are also contributing to the rising burden of visual impairment. Access to timely and quality eye care is highly unequal, particularly in rural areas, where most of the population resides with a very limited number of caregivers. Outreach eye camps are the vital entry point for nearly 46% of individuals accessing services for the first time through these camps. However, most outreach efforts lack standardized protocols for early detection, referral, follow-up, and continuity of care, resulting in missed treatment opportunities and poor outcomes. These institutional gaps are compounded by low community awareness, economic barriers, and the perception that vision loss is a normal part of aging, which delays health-seeking behavior. Additionally, lack of integration with the health system and tertiary facilities often delays timely referral and post-operative care.

To address these challenges, a structured, scalable community outreach model is proposed. Integrating technology, digital systems, and community-based approaches, the model will be implemented in eight underserved districts of Tamil Nadu—Cuddalore, Viluppuram, Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur, Perambalur, and Thiruvarur. Sixty outreach camps will be conducted annually using portable diagnostic devices (e.g., handheld slit lamps, vision screeners, autorefractors), simulation glasses for patient education, and digital data management system for real-time patient registration, tracking, and follow-up. Trained local teams, including paramedical ophthalmic personnel, counselors, and outreach coordinators, will lead implementation, with a strong focus on community engagement and behavior change communication (BCC) strategies such as group education sessions and targeted counseling to empower the community and caregivers. In addition to addressing cataract, the model will screen for and support long-term management of chronic conditions, positioning camps as platforms for comprehensive primary eye care. The model will also build strategies to address gender inequality, as women are 35 percent more likely to be blind and 27 percent less likely to undergo cataract surgery than men. Despite comprising 53% of outreach attendees, they often face delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Gender-responsive strategies will be embedded throughout the model to improve women’s access and health-seeking behavior, helping to close this gap.

This model will be further expanded across Orbis partner hospitals’ network in Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and other states. In addition, efforts will be made to integrate it within the network of 300+ eye care institutions of the Orbis partner hospital in India. Exposure to this model will be included in the training programs for Eye Health Outreach Managers, Program Managers, and Project Managers. This will also create opportunities for adapting this model across other eye care facilities within India and abroad. By bridging gaps in detection, referral, treatment adherence, and follow-up, while strengthening local capacity and raising community awareness, this model aims to reduce avoidable blindness in India by developing and establishing a replicable and scalable model of a novel outreach camp that extensively uses information technology and portable advanced diagnostic devices to improve early identification of cataracts and other chronic eye conditions. Its integrated, people-centered, and technology-driven design offers a practical, scalable approach to delivering high-quality, equitable eye care and advancing progress toward universal eye health coverage in India.