As we mark World Sight Day under the theme Love Your Eyes, we celebrate Dr. Proma and other frontline professionals who are using technology and compassion to make sight-saving care more inclusive and accessible—especially for women and children.
World Sight Day 2025: Dr. Proma is providing eye care to rural communities through telemedicine
In rural Bangladesh, quality eye care can be many hours away. But thanks to people like Dr. Proma, and the growing reach of teleconsultation services at Orbis-supported vision centres like those in Joldhaka and Sundarganj, thousands of people in hard-to-reach areas are getting the help they need—without having to travel long distances.
Dr. Proma provides telemedicine consultations to patients in the vision centers.
World Sight Day 2025
October 9 is World Sight Day, a day for the eye care community to come together and raise awareness of avoidable blindness and vision loss.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
Dr. Proma, an eye doctor based at Deep Eye Care Foundation in Rangpur, has been working closely with the region’s vision centres for over a year and a half. Through real-time video consultations, she connects with patients who have already been assessed by Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOPs) such as Wahid, at their local centres.
“Our MLOPs do the initial evaluations, and then refer patients to us via video call,” she explains. “We document symptoms, diagnose conditions, and provide treatment plans—including spectacles or medication—based on their needs.”
The model is efficient, scalable, and most importantly, life-changing for the people it serves.
Reaching the Women and Children Who Need It Most
For Dr. Proma, this work is deeply personal. “If they had to travel to Rangpur for care, it would have been far costlier,” she says. “Many couldn’t have made that journey. They wouldn’t have received treatment at all.”
This is especially true for rural mothers and small children, for whom travel can be difficult, expensive, and culturally restrictive. By offering care in their own communities, the vision centres—some of which are women-led—are breaking down those barriers.
“Because our centres are widespread across these regions, people can reach us easily,” Dr. Proma explains. “This is how we provide primary care to more people. This is how we make sure no one is left behind.”
Dr. Proma discusses a patient case through a telemedicine consultation.
A Leader Inspired by the Lives She Helps Change
Over the course of her career, Dr. Proma has found both purpose and strength in her role as a female leader. “My speaking skills have significantly improved my work,” she says. “The growth inspires me to serve more people and make a bigger impact.”
Working closely with women-led centres has also helped her better understand the struggles rural women face. “When they return and share that they are doing better after receiving help or treatment, it boosts my confidence,” she says. “It makes me believe that yes, if I want, I can do even more. I can even be a good leader.”
We’d like to say a big thank you to Dr. Proma, and all the staff of the vision centers in Rangpur for their tireless efforts to help families love their eyes – and of course, we’d like to thank our supporters, without whom none of this would be possible.
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