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The Model
Vision Centres
The Vision Centre (VC) model was launched in 2002, with an increasing number of VCs being set up over the years. They were initially supported by Sight Savers International (United Kingdom) and, more recently, by the Lavelle Fund of New York, Inc., USA. Subsequently, support also came from the two brothers Sudhakar Ravi and Sreekanth Ravi of California, USA.
Vision Centres (VC) form the base of the pyramid and have a target population of 50,000. Each VC is staffed by a Vision Technician, who is recruited from the local community and trained by LVPEI for one year. The VC is fully equipped for performing ophthalmic evaluation, refraction, dispensing spectacles and diagnosing potentially blinding diseases. The center offers screening services and is linked with community organizations. Each VC is attached to a secondary level care eye center (Service Centre), which has links with 10 VCs in a radius of 60 km, thus catering to 0.5 million people.
The models in Andhra Pradesh have been successfully developed and replicated at several centers. The daily average screening at the Vision Centres ranges between 10-20 patients; generally 25-35% patients require spectacles, of whom 50-60% buy them at the VCs. Of those screened, 20-26% receive referral services for medical or surgical interventions at the Service Centres.
Vision Guardians
The Vision Centre's concept is strengthened by Vision Guardians, who are embedded into the communities. Vision Guardians are volunteers with specific responsibilities - each one is responsible for 5000 people. The concept is implemented in collaboration with local self-help groups (SHGs).
Service Centres
Each L V Prasad Rural Eye Care Centre is designed to:
- serve a population of 500,000;
- offer comprehensive eye care services;
- see 20,000 out-patients every year;
- perform 2,000 surgeries every year;
- undertake preventive eye care programs;
- provide community based rehabilitation services;
- serve as a site for epidemiological studies; and
- serve as an eye donation centre.
Each Service Centre aims to be financially self-sufficient within five years by adopting the following approaches:
- Fifty percent of the services are paid by patients who have the ability to pay in a three-tier fee structure. The remaining 50 percent services are provided free to patients who do not have the ability to pay for them. Our experience shows that the centres can provide services to 70 percent non-paying and 30 percent paying patients and yet be self-sustainable.
- The same high quality eye care services are provided to both paying and non-paying patients. All patients who undergo cataract surgery have intraocular lenses implanted unless medically contraindicated.
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