“Now I can see and read clearly!”

In Pakistan, it can be incredibly hard for people to get treatment for common eye conditions if they live in rural areas, or if they have a disability.

Nineteen-year-old Aasiya was one of those facing this challenge. She first noticed her eyesight was deteriorating two years ago. Alongside frequent headaches, she had recurring pain in both eyes.

“I had been facing difficulty reading books, and it had become difficult for me to pass time. I enjoy reading books and novels, whatever I can find. I like to read storybooks, and I write poetry myself,” says Aasiya.

Six years ago, Aasiya began using a wheelchair after being diagnosed with polio. As a result of transportation and accessibility issues, she ended up dropping out of school early. Now, Aasiya studies at home independently and helps her two sisters with their schoolwork.

Speaking about her disability, Aasiya says: “Initially, I was able to walk, attend school, and run, but I began experiencing sudden falls. Over time, I gradually lost the ability to walk. I sought medical advice, and the doctors informed me that there was no treatment available.”

Aasiya’s siblings and sister-in-law help her to get around and carry out daily tasks, but she often has to stay at home. Unpaved streets and a lack of wheelchair ramps make it difficult for her to go out or attend appointments, such as a simple eye test.

“My brother or sister-in-law take me wherever it’s mandatory to go, otherwise I stay at home mostly. The health facility is not far from our house, but our street and the path to the main road aren’t cemented, so it’s very challenging to move a wheelchair,” says Aasiya.

Sightsavers’ Inspire programme is helping to make eye care more sustainable, inclusive and accessible. As people with disabilities like Aasiya often struggle to get health care, we’re helping medical centres to perform accessibility audits and make improvements, such as adding ramps or providing information in Braille.

In 2024, more than 300,000 eye tests were carried out as part of the programme, enabling thousands of people to receive essential care. It also helped to train more than 3,500 health professionals and teachers to carry out eye examinations, and provided vital equipment for more than 40 health centres.