A recent study by ophthalmologists at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has raised concerns about the growing burden of vision problems in Delhi, with nearly one in three people now requiring spectacles due to refractive errors.
Dr. Praveen Vashisth, Professor and Head of the Department of Community Ophthalmology, said that a pilot study conducted in the national capital suggests that around 30 percent of Delhi’s population needs spectacles because of refractive errors, a condition that affects the ability to see objects clearly.
“This is a wake-up call. Vision problems are becoming increasingly common in urban populations,” he said, adding that timely eye examinations and proper correction are essential to prevent long-term complications.
He said that the study shows that adults are the most affected, with nearly 70 percent of people above the age of 50 requiring spectacles to see clearly. Age-related changes in the eye, including reduced focusing ability and other refractive issues, are key reasons behind the rising demand for vision correction in this group.
However, experts say the problem is not limited to the elderly. Alarmingly, about 20 percent of children in Delhi also need spectacles, suggesting that vision problems are emerging much earlier in life. Increased screen exposure, reduced outdoor activity, and lack of routine eye check-ups are among the factors doctors believe may be contributing to the trend.
While Delhi has a relatively strong network of eye-care specialists, another concern highlighted by experts is the shortage of trained optometrists. “The good news is that Delhi has a good number of ophthalmologists,” said Dr. Vashisth. “But we still do not have enough optometrists.”
Because refractive errors are extremely common, optometrists play a crucial role in identifying and correcting these problems at an early stage.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat eye diseases and perform surgeries.
Dr. Vashisth said that Delhi currently has around 1,085 ophthalmologists and approximately 489 optometrists. However, global guidelines indicate that this number is still insufficient. The World Health Organization recommends that there should be at least one optometrist for every 50,000 people—a benchmark that the city has not yet reached.
The study also sheds light on the distribution of eye-care services in the capital. At present, around 249 institutions provide eye-care services in Delhi, but the majority of them operate in the private sector. This means access to affordable eye examinations may still remain limited for some sections of the population.
Primary healthcare facilities also face gaps in eye-care availability. The city has nearly 270 Ayushman Arogya Mandir centres, which are meant to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services. However, only about 50 of these centres currently offer dedicated eye-care services, leaving a significant gap in early detection and treatment.
Experts believe that expanding eye-care services at the primary healthcare level could play a major role in identifying vision problems earlier—especially among children and older adults who may not visit specialist hospitals unless they experience severe symptoms.
Routine eye examinations are particularly important after the age of 40, when many people begin to notice difficulty reading small print or focusing on nearby objects. Doctors say that this stage provides an ideal opportunity for a comprehensive eye check-up, which can help detect not only refractive errors but also serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataract.
Public health experts stress that improving awareness about eye health is just as important as increasing the number of specialists. Many people delay getting their eyes tested until their vision deteriorates significantly, even though most refractive errors can be corrected easily with spectacles.
“If vision problems are detected early, they can be corrected quickly and affordably,” Dr. Vashisth noted. “Regular eye examinations should become a routine part of health check-ups.”
Doctors say strengthening the workforce of trained optometrists, expanding eye-care services in primary health centres, and encouraging routine eye screening could significantly reduce the burden of untreated vision problems.
As the study indicates, the growing number of people needing spectacles is not merely a lifestyle trend—it is a public health signal that requires immediate attention. Experts warn that unless access to eye examinations improves, many individuals—especially children and the elderly—may continue to live with undiagnosed or uncorrected vision problems that could affect their education, productivity, and quality of life.
