Gogate, Parikshit MPhadke, Supriya PDas, TaraprasadSane, ShrivallabhMoosa, SoumyaDhangar, AshokInamdar, MinhajKhandekar, RajivMagdum, RenuBhawalkar, Jitendra SBhoosnurmath, Kashinath2023-08-252023-08-252022-05Gogate Parikshit M, Phadke Supriya P, Das Taraprasad, Sane Shrivallabh, Moosa Soumya, Dhangar Ashok, Inamdar Minhaj, Khandekar Rajiv, Magdum Renu, Bhawalkar Jitendra S, Bhoosnurmath Kashinath. Vision centre helps reduce blindness and vision impairment. Proof of concept in a four-year longitudinal study in an urban area in India. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2022 May; 70(5): 1742-17481998-36890301-4738http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/224314Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of blindness and severe visual impairment (SVI) by using a door?to?door screening and vision center (VC) examination strategy in an urban area in western Maharashtra (Pune), India and repeat the exercise after 4 years to study its impact. Methods: Four trained community health workers measured the visual acuity and performed an external ocular examination in patients’ homes. People with vision <6/18 were requested to visit the VC for a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist. An ophthalmologist examined people whose vision did not improve to 6/12. A home examination was done for people who did not visit the VC despite two requests. The same population was examined twice in an interval of 4 years. Results: In the study, 44,535 people in 2015–16 and 98.14% (n = 43,708) of them in 2018–19 were examined. Blindness (vision < 3/60 in better eye), and moderate?to?severe visual impairment (MSVI, vision 6/18–6/60 in better eye) were 0.26% and 1.3%, respectively, in the first cohort, and 0.16% and 1.1%, respectively, in the second cohort (P < 0.001). When the worse eye was considered, the prevalence of blindness reduced from 0.72% to 0.44%, SVI reduced from 0.1% to 0.07%, and MVI decreased from 1.7% to 1.49% between 2015 and 2019 (P < 0.001). Females (P < 0.001) and older individuals (P < 0.001) were more likely to have blindness or SVI. In the VC, 8211 people were examined in 4 years.Conclusion: The reduction of blindness and MSVI in the urban area of Pune can be partly ascribed to the presence of a VC and attendant screening in this locality.Cataractblindnessvisual impairmentvision centreIndiaJournal ArticleIndiaCommunity Eye Care Foundation, Dr. Gogate’s Eye Clinic, Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Ophthalmology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaSchool of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast, UKSrimati Kanuri Santhamma Cetre for Vitreoretinal Disease, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, IndiaMaharashtra Institute of Mental Health, B. J. Medical College and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaOperation Eyesight Universal, PGR ICARE Campus, Kismatpur, Hyderabad, Telangana, IndiaResearch department, King Khalid Eye Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDean, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India