Chhattisgarh Achieves Milestone in Eye Health: 11 Districts Attain Cataract Blindness Backlog-Free Status
Raipur, July 17
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and the guidance of Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, the Health and Family Welfare Department of Chhattisgarh is carrying out large-scale interventions to prevent avoidable blindness in the state. Cataract, one of the leading causes of blindness, is an age-related eye disorder that is generally considered common in elderly individuals. However, cataracts can be treated with surgery, allowing patients to regain their vision.
To address this, the state offers high-quality, free-of-cost cataract surgery services at 43 health institutions including 25 district hospitals and 10 medical colleges, where regular eye operations are conducted.
From April 2024 to March 2025, 1,45,580 cataract surgeries were successfully performed, followed by 27,245 more between April and June 2025. The Government of India’s ambitious “National Netra Jyoti Abhiyan” (National Eye Light Mission) is currently being implemented across Chhattisgarh, with the goal of declaring all districts as “Cataract Blindness Backlog-Free Status” (CBBFS) zones. Under this initiative, patients who are blind in both eyes due to cataracts are identified and prioritised for corrective surgery.
So far, 11 districts—Kawardha, Raipur, Dhamtari, Balodabazar, Balod, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Khairagarh, Raigarh, Korba, and Bastar—have submitted their claims to the Government of India for declaration as cataract blindness-free zones. Verification is currently in progress for Kanker and Bemetara, after which their proposals will be forwarded to the Centre.
The department is also actively working on the early identification and treatment of glaucoma, another major cause of blindness. Glaucoma is a complex eye disease that progresses silently—often without early symptoms—and by the time it’s detected, irreversible damage may have occurred. Once lost, vision cannot be restored. Early detection is only possible through regular eye examinations, and individuals over the age of 40 are advised to undergo eye screening every six months. Screening facilities for glaucoma are available at all block-level health centres across the state.
To combat corneal blindness, the government has launched the “Corneal Blindness-Free State Initiative.” Under this scheme, corneal blindness patients are being identified across all districts and enrolled for treatment through registered cornea transplant centres and eye banks. Upon receiving eye donations, corneal transplants are conducted based on priority. Public awareness drives have helped encourage eye donation, leading to 263 donations between April 2024 and March 2025, and 88 more between April and June 2025.
Free treatment for other common eye disorders is also being provided across all government health facilities. Special eye clinics are held on designated days in every district hospital, covering glaucoma, retina issues, diabetic retinopathy, pediatric ophthalmology, and more. During April 2024 to March 2025, over 81,000 patients availed these services, and more than 25,000 were treated between April and June 2025.
Chhattisgarh residents continue to benefit from comprehensive eye care services through quality diagnostics, regular screening camps, state-of-the-art equipment, and timely surgeries. The Health Department remains fully committed to delivering accessible, effective, and high-quality eye health services to every citizen of the state.