LAICO, 9-14 March 2026

LAICO conducted the 3rd batch of the Vision Centre Management Course for five participants from India and Cambodia. The training aimed to strengthen the overall performance of Vision Centres by providing practical knowledge and exposure to key operational aspects. A strong emphasis was also placed on the effective use of data and software tools to support informed decision-making.

The programme combined classroom learning with field visits, allowing participants to observe health education activities, Vision Centre operations, teleconsultation processes, interactions with Vision Centre staff and clinical in-charge doctors, and the end-to-end spectacle dispensing process. Through these experiences, participants gained practical insights and actionable strategies to strengthen the reach, quality, and sustainability of Vision Centres in their communities.

LAICO, 20^th February 2026

Aravind has been operating vision centres for more than two decades. However, there is limited scientific evidence evaluating their population-level impact. To address this knowledge gap, Aravind has initiated a large epidemiological study across seven districts in Tamil Nadu: Dindigul, Karur, Madurai, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Tiruchirappalli, and Virudhunagar. The study, titled “Evaluating the Impact of Vision Centres on Reducing Visual Impairment in Rural South India: A Population-Based Comparative Study,” aims to assess the effectiveness of Vision Centres by comparing key eye health indicators between populations living within VC service areas and those in non-service areas.

An inaugural event was held to mark the launch of this study at Aravind-Madurai on 20^th February 2026. The study was inaugurated by Dr. S.V. Chandrakumar, Project Director, Tamil Nadu State Blindness Control Society, and was attended by the survey team, ophthalmologists, AOPs, and field workers.

The findings from this study are expected to provide important evidence on the impact of Vision Centres, which will be valuable for guiding future scale-up efforts and supporting advocacy for community-based eye care models.