Early this month, GoodWeave and its local partner, VisionSpring, hosted the first of 40 free comprehensive eye screening camps for carpet weavers in India.

 

The first camp served 889 carpet workers in a community in Bhadohi. Of these, 426 (48%) were identified as having eyesight problems and needing eyeglasses. By partnering with VisionSpring, eyeglasses are available for a nominal cost of INR 80 (approximately $1 USD), making them affordable to weavers. Most will receive their eyeglasses on-site, while the rest will collect theirs within 20 days.

GoodWeave coordinates with management teams at monitored exporter, subcontractor, and home-based work sites to ensure their workers are informed about the eye screening camps. VisionSpring will provide services to 5,500 workers in Panipat, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, and Varanasi throughout July and August.

Eye screenings are essential for weavers, who often suffer from vision impairment due to working long hours in poorly lit rooms. Many workers cannot afford the cost of eye care or eyeglasses, impacting their productivity and quality of life. VisionSpring, a social enterprise that provides affordable eyecare to the world’s poorest communities, reports that eyeglasses can improve productivity by up to 32%.