Mission:
The VHA Global Initiative envisions a world where clear vision is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Millions of individuals—many of them children—suffer from preventable or treatable vision impairments due to financial, geographic, or systemic barriers to care. These impairments inhibit learning, limit productivity, and perpetuate cycles of poverty. Our initiative is designed to address these challenges through a multi-faceted approach:
1. Access to Affordable Eyewear:
Establishing partnerships with local manufacturers to produce high-quality, low-cost glasses tailored to community needs. Launching distribution networks to reach underserved areas, beginning in India and expanding to other nations with high unmet needs.
2. Community Education and Advocacy:
Educating communities about the importance of vision care and early intervention through awareness campaigns at schools worldwide. Advocating for policies that prioritize affordable eye care within public health systems.
3. Global Expansion and Scalability:
Scaling efforts by leveraging technology to offer eye exams and consultations. Expanding our model from India to other countries in Asia, Africa, and beyond, addressing both urban and rural populations.
Process:
1. Ideal Age/Classes to Screen: Focus is on kids from 7th to 8th grade (ages 10-12). By this age, refractive errors are more stable, and early detection can make a big difference in academics and overall well-being. Screening very young children (under 8) might not be as effective since their prescriptions often change as they grow.
2. Screening Tool: The Snellen Chart or E-Chart is a simple, cost-effective and widely available globally. It’s easy to use and can be administered by class teachers with minimal training. Also kids who are squinting or sitting too close to the board will need to be sent for final confirmatory test for eyesight. Following are instructions and materials needed.
Materials:
✅ Snellen eye chart
✅ Measuring tape (to ensure 20 feet/6 meters distance)
✅ Occluder (or a clean tissue to cover one eye)
✅ Pointer/stick
✅ Well-lit room Step-by-Step Instructions
Instructions:
1. Set Up the Test 📌 Place the Snellen chart at eye level on a well-lit wall. 📌 Mark a 20-foot (6-meter) distance from the chart.
2. Prepare the Patient 👀 Ask the patient to remove glasses or contact lenses (unless testing with correction). 👋 Cover one eye with an occluder or hand, without pressing on the eyelid.
3. Conduct the Test 📝 Point to one letter at a time, starting from the largest letters at the top. 🔊 Ask the patient to read aloud from left to right (or vice versa). ❌ Stop when they cannot read at least 50% of the letters on a line.
4. Record the Vision Score 📌 Note the smallest line read correctly. 📌 Record vision as a fraction (e.g., 20/40 = patient sees at 20 feet what a normal eye sees at 40 feet).
5. Repeat for the Other Eye 👁 Switch eyes and repeat. 🧐 If needed, repeat with glasses/contact lenses for best-corrected vision.
6. Interpret the Results ✔ 20/20 = Normal vision ❗ Worse than 20/40 = May need further eye evaluation