A hospital conducted eye-tests on 34,000 truck drivers in the country to formulate the report and found out that despite having vision issues, none of the truckers were using corrective glasses.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 18, 2023 04:38 IST
Around 50% of all truck drivers in India suffer from vision-related problems. (Representational photo)
By Ashutosh Mishra: A report by ICARE eye hospital revealed that 50 percent of truck drivers in India have compromised vision. The hospital conducted eye-tests on 34,000 truck drivers in the country in association with the NGO, Sightsavers India.
The high percentage of vision impairment among truck drivers means there is a potential threat to commuters on speedy highways from heavy trucks.
According to the report, about 38 percent of the truckers tested were found to suffer from near-vision problems, 8 percent had distance-vision problems and 4 percent of them had both distance and near-vision problems. None of the truckers were using corrective glasses.
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The majority of cases of near-vision problems were found in the 36-50 age group. Meanwhile, 45 percent of all cases of distance-vision problems were found in the younger age group of 18-35 years.
Dr Saurabh Choudhry, the CEO of ICARE hospital said, “As an eye hospital, we have been aware that a large number of accidents on Indian roads happen because of vision-related problems of drivers. Most truck drivers tested by us did not realise they had a compromised vision and had never undergone any eye examination. This left them prone to accidents. There are 9 million truck drivers on Indian roads. Extrapolating the data from our field study, we can assume that half of them would have vision problems. They would have been deemed unfit to drive without proper glasses and eye checkup had they been in any western country.”
“Upon screening and investigating the truck drivers, we found that they mostly suffered from refractive errors. In association with our partner Sightsavers, we provided the drivers with ready-to-clip (R2C) spectacles and dispensed glasses on the spot. For those having complex refractive errors, the glasses were customised and given to them on the next stop on their road journey. Using various technology tools and apps, we made sure they were wearing glasses on the highways while driving,” he added.
According to the doctor, the unorganised nature of their work discourages truck drivers from taking their health issues seriously. Most of them hail from rural areas with no facility for preventive or curative eye check-ups.
As a result, they have never been screened for glasses or eye diseases. “In our experience, most truck drivers tend to develop dry eyes and chronic allergic eye conditions due to long working hours and improper hygiene. Many drivers above 60 years of age also suffer from cataract or glaucoma. A routine eye check-up is a must for all truck drivers so that they remain safe for themselves and others,” said Dr Saurabh Choudhry.
Twenty days a month, a team of ophthalmologists from the hospital visits trucking hubs of Delhi-NCR, where most truck drivers stop for resting, to administer an eye checkup. The program seeks to ensure that truckers with refractive errors receive glasses in the most convenient way possible, they wear them consistently, and seek regular eye examinations.
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