World Sight Day 2025: Stories of Light and Hope from India
“Restoring Vision, Rebuilding Lives”
Every October, the world observes World Sight Day to remind us that vision is more than seeing — it’s living.
In 2025, this day (October 9) comes with a renewed call from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB): #LoveYourEyes — urging individuals and nations alike to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to quality eye care.
India, with its enormous population and vast disparities in healthcare access, stands as a living paradox — the nation that produces some of the world’s finest ophthalmologists, yet still houses millions who live in preventable blindness. But amid these challenges, there are stories that shine with courage, science, and humanity — stories that deserve to be told this World Sight Day.
1. Akbar Kathat — The Farmer Who Saw His Grandson for the First Time
Location: Pali District, Rajasthan
Condition: Blind for 35 years due to chronic uveitis
Restored by: Doctors at JLN Hospital, Ajmer
Akbar Kathat, 61, a humble farmer from Rajasthan, lived in darkness for over three decades. His world was defined by touch and sound — until a team of ophthalmologists in Ajmer took on his rare case. After meticulous surgery to correct long-standing uveitis-related complications, light flooded back into Akbar’s life.
The first thing he did after regaining vision was video-call his grandson — the face he’d only imagined.
“I could not believe my eyes. I saw my family again — after 35 years,” Akbar told The Times of India.
Medical Insight:
Chronic uveitis often causes irreversible damage if untreated early. In Akbar’s case, micro-incision cataract surgery with lens implantation restored functional sight — a testament to advances in ophthalmic microsurgery.
2. Sakib Gore — Turning Personal Pain into Public Purpose
Location: Badlapur, Maharashtra
Founder: Vision Friend Sakib Gore Foundation
For Sakib Gore, the journey began with his grandmother’s blindness — a deeply personal heartbreak that led to a lifelong mission. What started as small local eye check-up camps has today evolved into a movement that has screened 2.6 million people, provided 1.7 million free spectacles, and funded 63,000 cataract surgeries across rural Maharashtra.
“A pair of glasses can bring back dignity. Cataract surgery can bring back livelihood. That’s why we do this,” Sakib says.
Community Impact:
Sakib’s model blends medical collaboration with social entrepreneurship — working alongside local NGOs and district hospitals to provide cost-free diagnostics and surgeries. It shows that the war on avoidable blindness can be fought not just with hospitals, but with humanity.
3. Dr. B. K. Jain — The Healer of Chitrakoot
Title: Padma Shri Awardee (2025)
Institution: Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya, Chitrakoot
Nestled in the spiritual heartland of Chitrakoot stands one of India’s most respected eye-care institutions — the Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya, led by Dr. Budhendra Kumar Jain.
For decades, Dr. Jain has turned what was once a small ashram clinic into a state-of-the-art hospital performing over 120,000 eye surgeries annually, the majority of them free of cost. His philosophy is simple: “No one should live in darkness because of poverty.”
“We cannot wait for patients to come to cities,” Dr. Jain says. “We must take the city to them — through camps, mobile clinics, and education.”
Scientific Legacy:
Dr. Jain and his team pioneered rural tele-ophthalmology in India — using digital fundus cameras and AI screening to diagnose diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma remotely. Their model has inspired replication across Asia and Africa.
The Broader Lens: India’s Journey Toward Clearer Vision
India accounts for nearly a fifth of the world’s blind population — yet 80% of these cases are preventable or treatable.
Key causes include cataract (62%), refractive errors (19%), glaucoma (5%), and diabetic retinopathy. National programs like the NPCBVI (National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment) and initiatives by foundations such as Aravind, Sankara, and Sadguru continue to bridge this gap.
💡 Emerging technologies — AI-driven screening, robotic surgery, portable fundus scopes — are changing the landscape. But the true transformation lies in awareness and early diagnosis.
Lessons from These Stories
- Sight Restored = Life Restored: Vision loss affects employment, education, and mental health.
- Community Care Matters: Most blindness is preventable if detected early in rural settings.
- Innovation Needs Inclusion: Technology must reach the marginalized.
- Eye Health is Primary Health: Our eyes mirror the body — diabetes, hypertension, and neurological conditions often show up first in the retina.
The World Sight Day Pledge (2025)
- Get your eyes checked — and encourage others to do the same.
- Support eye screening in schools and villages.
- Donate to foundations bringing vision care to the underserved.
- Share stories like Akbar’s, Sakib’s, and Dr. Jain’s to spread hope.
“When you restore someone’s sight, you don’t just help them see — you help them live again.”
