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Primary Eye Care
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2025 Sep 19.
Eye injury rates and community cost savings through vision centers: Evidence from southern India.
Rajendran VK, Gowth AM, Balasubramanian A, Kowsalya A, Mani I, Joseph S, Ravilla TD.
This study quantifies the public health and economic benefits of vision centres by examining eye injury rates and associated cost savings in southern India. It provides compelling evidence for policymakers on the value of community-level eye care infrastructure.
Br J Ophthalmol. 2025 Sep 5.
Impact of Vision Centres on achieving universal eye health coverage: prevalence, coverage and utilisation of eye care services in Southern India.
Rajendran VK, Raman R, Vardhan A, Gupta S, Bharath A, Ravilla TD.
This study examines how vision centres contribute to expanding eye health coverage at the population level in southern India. It provides evidence that community-based vision centres significantly improve service utilisation and bring eye care closer to universal coverage goals.
Eye Sci. 2025;2(2):136-146.
Bridging the eye care gap through technological innovation: the role of vision centres in India's primary healthcare landscape.
Joseph S, Ravilla T, Gowth M.
This article describes how vision centres, supported by technology, are addressing the gap between the need for eye care and its delivery within India's primary healthcare system. It outlines the operational model and its potential for replication across similar health systems.
TNOA J Ophthalmic Sci Res. 2025 Jul-Sep;63:281-284.
Improving compliance with glaucoma follow-up through vision centres while promoting environmental sustainability: A cross-sectional observational study.
Balakrishnan N, Krishnadas SR, Gowth M.
This study explores how vision centres can serve as a touchpoint to improve patient compliance with glaucoma follow-up care while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of service delivery. It demonstrates how primary eye care infrastructure can serve multiple strategic goals.
Eye (Lond). 2023 Dec 6.
Evaluation of a telemedicine-enabled universal eye health delivery model in rural southern India.
Joseph S, Rajendran VK, Khetwani D, Uduman MS, Ramasamy D, Gowth AM, Kowsalya A, Ehrlich JR, Ravilla TD.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a telemedicine-integrated primary eye care model designed to achieve universal eye health in rural India. It demonstrates that technology-enabled vision centres can substantially increase coverage and quality of eye care in underserved communities.
Management Science. 2022 Jul 21.
Multichannel Delivery in Healthcare: The Impact of Telemedicine Centers in Southern India.
Delana K, Deo S, Ramdas K, Subburaman G-B B, Ravilla T.
Published in a leading management science journal, this study analyses the impact of telemedicine centres as an additional channel for healthcare delivery alongside brick-and-mortar facilities in southern India. It provides quantitative evidence that multichannel strategies increase patient reach without cannibalising existing services.
Ophthalmology. 2020 Nov 27.
The Utility of Routine Fundus Photography Screening for Posterior Segment Disease: A Stepped-wedge, Cluster-randomized Trial in South India.
Shekhawat NS, Niziol LM, Sharma SS, Joseph S, Robin AL, Gillespie BW, Musch DC, Woodward MA, Venkatesh R.
This randomised trial assesses whether routine fundus photography in a primary care setting can effectively identify posterior segment diseases in a south Indian population. It provides evidence to guide decisions on integrating photographic screening into primary eye care workflows.
Community Eye Health. 2019;32:S3-S4.
Spectacle dispensing for myopia at primary eye care level.
Sathya RT, Dhivya R.
This article describes how spectacle dispensing for myopia can be effectively integrated into primary eye care delivery, addressing both the clinical and logistical dimensions of the service. It is a practical reference for vision centres and primary care providers seeking to include refractive services as part of their core offering.
SSRN E-Journal. 2020 Jan.
Multichannel delivery in healthcare: the impact of telemedicine centers in Southern India.
Delana K, Deo S, Ramdas K, Ganesh Babu B, Thulasiraj RD.
This working paper presents early findings on the operational and patient-reach impact of telemedicine centres within a hub-and-spoke eye care delivery system. It offers a framework for hospitals considering the adoption of technology-enabled outreach as part of their service model.
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020 Feb;68(2):333-339.
Primary eye care in India - The vision center model.
Khanna RC, Sabherwal S, Sil A, Gowth M, Dole K, Kuyyadiyil S, Chase H.
This article describes the vision centre model as a scalable approach to delivering primary eye care across India, covering its design, functioning, and outcomes. It is a key reference for eye care planners and hospital networks seeking to establish community-level facilities.
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020 Feb;68(2):369-70.
Commentary: When will Policy framework catch up to leverage teleophthalmology to realize the holy grail of Universal Eye Health?
Ravilla T.
This commentary highlights the gap between the potential of teleophthalmology and the policy environment needed to fully harness it for universal eye health. It calls on health system leaders and policymakers to align regulatory frameworks with the realities of technology-enabled care delivery.
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022 May;70(5):1448-1449.
Primary eye care - Key to universal eye health.
Thulasiraj R.
This editorial argues that strengthening primary eye care is the most critical step toward achieving universal eye health coverage. It makes a strategic case for hospital networks and policymakers to prioritise community-level services as the foundation of any eye health system.
Community Eye Health J. 2019;32(107):S11-S12.
Managing demand generation with evidence.
Meenakshi Sundaram R, Thulasiraj RD, Ganesh Babu BS.
This article presents a data-driven approach to generating community demand for eye care services, drawing on experience from vision centre operations. It offers practical guidance for hospital managers on using evidence to design and monitor outreach strategies.
Eye (Lond). 2022 Jul 29.
Validation of diagnostic accuracy of retinal image grading by trained non-ophthalmologist grader for detecting diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
Joseph S, Rajan RP, Sundar B, Venkatachalam S, Kempen JH, Kim R.
This study validates the ability of trained non-ophthalmologist graders to accurately interpret retinal images for diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema, supporting task-shifting in primary eye care. It provides a strong evidence base for expanding screening programmes using allied ophthalmic personnel.
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019;137:786-792.
Effectiveness of Teleretinal Imaging-Based Hospital Referral Compared With Universal Referral in Identifying Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.
Joseph S, Kim R, Ravindran RD, Fletcher AE, Thulasiraj RD.
This cluster randomised trial compares targeted teleretinal imaging-based referral with universal referral for identifying diabetic retinopathy, demonstrating the efficiency and accuracy of a technology-enabled approach. It is a landmark study for eye hospitals designing diabetic retinopathy screening pathways.
Community Eye Health. 2006 Jun;19(58):29-30.
Optical services through outreach in South India: a case study from Aravind Eye Hospitals.
Thulasiraj RD, Sundaram RM.
This case study documents how Aravind Eye Hospitals extended optical services to rural communities through structured outreach, offering a model for hospitals seeking to integrate refractive services into their outreach programmes. It demonstrates that organised outreach can meaningfully bridge the gap between eye care facilities and underserved populations.
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