Munnidevi Gupta's story...

Mrs. Munnidevi had a complained of decrease in vision since 2 years. But was afraid to communicate with anybody since she belongs to a family and community, where women should not have any Ocular Abnormalities. She was also unaware about the fact that her decrease in vision is an age related factor rather any ocular abnormality. Due to family circumstances and her belief she did not visit any Eye Care practitioner near her locality.
Munnidevi was fortunate enough to work from home, which is unlike other women belonging to this community. She works at one of the workshop near her house where she daily goes and packs Potato wafers of various quantities in plastic bags. She was doing this work since 3 years but, as her vision started decreasing her speed of packing wafer packets got affected. Her monthly income decreased from 700/- to 300/- Rs. This put her into depression, because she has 4 kids to look after, since they all go to school and her husband’s income, who is driver, was not enough to run their family.

Munnidevi’s Husband was very co-operative, as he came to know reason for her depression. He went on searching for a good Eye Care practitioner to treat her decreased vision. It was during Navratri where Lotus College arranged a special camp in Dharavi as part of Mumbai Eye Care Campaign to cover Focus Group; her husband came to know about our mission and advised her for an eye examination. She visited the site and on evaluation by our optometrists she was diagnosed to have presbyopia. She was given + 1.25 D of ready glasses for near work immediately at the camp site.

She was nervous to seek an eye examination due to multiple reasons namely, poor financial status, Community pressure, lack of knowledge about eye care etc...

She is happy with the fact that, her decrease in vision is an age related factor and not a major Ocular Disorder, her job is secured and now she earns monthly income of 1000/- which she thinks that will help her family up- bringing and support her husband.Her treatment was successful, because not only her vision was restored but she gives this sight restoring therapy credit to the team of Mumbai Eye Care Campaign and to her husband for being so co-operative. She has also learned how to wear glasses and its care and maintenance.

By Hiral Korani
Sr Optometrist -MEC