Projects by Eyebetes Movement
Eyebetes Movement works for those who have limited awareness regarding Diabetes and causes of Preventable Blindness and have never been checked for diabetes, visual acuity, prescription glasses or and have never seen an eye doctor to diagnose causes of preventable blindness because of lack of education, knowledge, accessibility to healthcare and affordability issues.
Eyebetes movement concentrates on people living in the slums of Mumbai, surrounding villages and tribal areas and we work closely with frontline junior police personnel who have limited education and access to healthcare facilities.
Our data and other published data demonstrates that in the slums, more than 60% of adults are either undiagnosed pre-diabetic or confirmed diabetics who need treatment.
70% have never worn glasses and need glasses for distance and / or near. 30% and more have early signs of some preventable cause of blindness like glaucoma, aging, diabetes etc which if treated early can prevent blindness.
Eyebetes Projects are broadly categorized into 2 main areas
1) Eyebetes Projects in the Community
2) Eyebetes Projects for Frontline Workers
Eyebetes Project - The Tests and Services Provided
- Random Blood Sugar – by finger prick.
- Diabetes Screening – using HbA1c.
- Total Lipid Profile – (9 tests related to cholesterol and other lipids).
- Habitual Visual Acuity – recorded by optician.
- Refraction – conducted by expert optician.
- Best Corrected Visual Acuity – for both distance and near.
- Eye Screening for Preventable Causes of Blindness – by using non-mydiatric fundus cameras.
- Review of All Eye Images – by expert eye doctors remotely.
- Dispensing of UV Protection Sunglasses to every beneficiary.
- Dispensing of Prescription Glasses – (distance or near or bifocal).
- Blood results are sent by WhatsApp as well as courier.
- Results of eye screening sent by WhatsApp and courier.
Eyebetes – Our Team for a Project
- Trained opticians
- Ophthalmic imaging technicians
- Blood collection technicians
- Expert eye surgeons
- Team for people management
- Senior supervisors for each part of the project
- Volunteers and social workers for awareness initiatives
- Counsellors
On average we have a team of 75-90 people on-site during each project and additional 10-15 eye doctors work remotely to review all the eye images and data and provide comprehensive reports.
Eyebetes Projects – Closing the Loop
On completion of the Eyebetes project, all results are shared with the local social worker as well as the local medical heath officer so that people in the community who are responsible for the health of the community know about people who have issues and all activities and finances can be concentrated for these people.
For the Eyebetes projects with frontline workers and Police, all the results are shared with the medical officers in-charge so they can ensure appropriate treatment is started and continued.
Eyebetes Awareness Initiatives
During each Eyebetes project, we have awareness initiatives including door-to-door campaigns, talks and lectures by local social workers who are trained by Eyebetes Foundation as well as playing celebrity videos regarding diabetes and preventable blindness during the Eyebetes project in the community.
We also distribute educational leaflets regarding diabetes and preventable blindness in the local language.