We are an independent, not-for-profit registered trust established in 2012. Our activities and programs across India have helped over 1.6 million Indians to access vision screenings and a pair of corrective glasses.
Our team of optometrists work to provide primary eye care to urban poor and rural communities. To advance India’s primary eye care capacity, we work in continuing educational programs for primary eye care professionals, awareness generation, leadership development, and advocacy.
Message from the CEO
Dear Friends,
I am happy to connect with you. Many of you have been together with us on our journey to provide people across India access to a pair of spectacles. I am conscious that some of you may not be fully aware of our work and mission. Since we commenced our work a little over a decade ago, IVI has touched over 1.6 million lives across 24 states in India through over 10,500 vision screening programs, 600+ capacity building initiatives and 100+ organization collaborations.
Good and healthy vision are essential for the personal well-being and progress of a society, people and nation. At the heart of our organization lies the commitment of our trained professionals to address the vision health needs of the urban poor and rural communities in India.
Our website will take you through IVI's mission, programs and activities guided by the principle that every person deserves the opportunity to see the world with clarity and good vision.
We invite you to support us as we work towards a country free from uncorrected refractive errors to enable everyone have access to a pair of spectacles.
The need
500 million people in India need a pair of spectacles and over 250 million do not have access to it. Vision loss due to refractive errors contributes to poor academic performance and productivity among children and adults in India. To meet the huge need for primary eye care, we need more than 150,000 primary eye care professionals (optometrists, ophthalmic assistants and vision technicians). Currently, we have only approximately 45,000 professionals in the country.
What we do
What it means to have better vision
On average, children would learn twice as much if they had their vision corrected. Vision correction also enables them to earn 55.6% more lifetime income.
Access to spectacles among adults increases work productivity by 32% and incomes by 33%.
If individuals can see well, they can study better, work better, and have their quality of life improved.
1.6 million free vision screenings opening doors, opportunities
Working to improve visual health and provide access to a pair of corrective glasses to those in need, IVI attained a significant milestone on January 10, 2024 with one million free vision screenings across India, bringing hope of clear vision and brighter futures to urban poor and the underprivileged in remote communities.
Vidhi, a Class 8 student in a Delhi school, became the one millionth beneficiary when received a pair of corrective glasses from the visiting Australian Parliamentarian, Dr Andrew Charlton MP, who also distributed corrective glasses to community and children at an event in Delhi.
Dr Andrew Charlton MP,
Australian Federal Parliament
“It is good to visit an IVI project and see the work being done to benefit disadvantaged communities, including children. I am happy that the beneficiaries are able to lead a better life, with improved work potentials and better grades for children in school. Congratulations to IVI for achieving the significant milestone of one million vision screenings. I wish IVI and the team all the best in future.”
Vinod Daniel,
CEO, India Vision Institute
"We thank our partners who have been with us in our journey to achieving this milestone. With 150 million visually impaired still in need for access to vision screenings and spectacles, we are aware of the work ahead as we endeavour to reach as many underprivileged people as possible. Refractive error correction through an eye check and a pair of spectacles can help improve vision health of people. A simple pair of glasses can make children do well in class as well as in outdoor activities, and improve their future prospects. In adult beneficiaries, clear vision will boost productivity and their income earning potential.”
Impact stories
Transforming lives through the power of clear vision, India Vision Institute's impact stories showcase the hope, dreams, and opportunities unlocked for individuals across India. From children succeeding in school to adults regaining their livelihoods, our programs bring brighter futures to all. Join us in celebrating these journeys of resilience and renewal, and witness the lasting impact of our mission to improve eye health, one vision at a time.
Dr Rashima Asokan
Head - Occupational Optometry Services and Vision Enhancement Clinic, Sankara Nethralaya
"Independent practice is always a dream for professionals. The step forward is a nightmare due to the challenges in the market. Through IVI’s Young Leaders Program, we gained knowledge from experts, from their ground experience. The sessions were simple and had taken away the fear of independent practice. Confidence levels have been boosted for all participants.
Thanks to IVI"
Sunny Mannava
Vice President - Research & Product Solutions,
Pellucid Care Networks
"The IVI Young Leaders Program has been a transformative experience for me. Through comprehensive training, mentorship, and collaborative group projects, I honed essential skills in communication, leadership, and strategic thinking. For instance, I learned to navigate complex programmatic challenges while working with a diverse team using better communication and leadership skills. I highly recommend IVI’s YLP to aspiring leaders—it’s a platform where personal growth meets real-world impact."
Join us in our mission
Our work is leading to greater awareness about vision health, as also the necessary public policy push for primary eye health, and help build capacity and upgrade optometrists’ skills. IVI’s innovative approaches, including through Vision Centres and Mobile Van clinics, are helping underprivileged adults and schoolchildren in urban areas and rural pockets get vision checked and improve livelihood potentials, and through better grades in school from clearer vision, improve the future prospects of these children.
IVI’s free vision screenings have touched over 1.6 million lives in 24 states of India. Join us in our efforts to expand primary eye care. We endeavor to provide a pair of spectacles to every Indian in need of one.