Karnataka rolls out free reading glasses programme for elderly, pilot in Yadgir district

The state government has partnered with RestoringVision to launch a program aimed at providing free vision screening and reading glasses to citizens aged 40 and above across the state, starting from Yadgir district.

The initiative, implemented through Ayushman Arogya Mandir Sub-Centres, marks the first such collaboration in India to address presbyopia on a large scale at the sub-centre level. In the first phase, around one lakh reading glasses will be distributed free of charge to 216 government healthcare facilities covering hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centers and sub-centres in Yadgir.

Around 3.28 lakh residents aged 40 years and above in the district are expected to benefit from the scheme. Yadgir was chosen as the pilot because the initial supply was sufficient to meet the region’s near vision correction needs, officials said.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia, an age-related decrease in the ability to focus on nearby objects, is the leading cause of vision impairment worldwide. Health officials estimate that about 28% of Yadgir’s population is affected by the condition, which can be corrected with simple reading glasses.

The program design is based on recommendations made by a joint team, including the World Health Organization and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, following a field evaluation of Karnataka’s ASHA Kirana model in October 2025. The team recommended establishing a sustainable presbyopia screening system at the primary care level through trained community health personnel.

Within the scope of the initiative, individuals who see well at a distance but have difficulty seeing up close will be screened at the community level and, if found suitable, reading glasses will be provided. More than 30% of adults over 40 who need this type of fix currently lack access, officials said.

The program will be implemented with the support of iDrishti, who will oversee the training of Community Health Workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, supply logistics and monitoring. Beneficiary data will be recorded digitally through the Government’s glasses application.

Health workers, including ASHA staff, will also conduct door-to-door screening as part of the outreach.

The initiative is designed to be rolled out across the state in subsequent stages and the Karnataka model is expected to serve as a template for other regions, officials said.