In the rural district of Joldhaka, Bangladesh, eye care used to mean a long journey to the city, expensive treatment, and too often, going without care entirely. But today, thanks to women like Joyosshree, quality vision services are now just around the corner.
At only 24, Joyosshree is a Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOP) leading one of the Orbis-supported vision centres in Rangpur. Her work is restoring not just sight, but confidence, dignity, and hope to her neighbors and community.
This World Sight Day, we’re celebrating the power of grassroots leadership through the theme Love Your Eyes—and the local women who are making eye health accessible for everyone, right where they live.
Joyosshree restores sight and hope to her community in rural Bangladesh.
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.
The Joldhaka Vision Center is a primary eye care facility located in a rural area. It is operated by the Deep Eye Care Foundation, supported by Orbis International, and funded by Pro Victimis. The center is staffed by three personnel: two MLOPs and a Vision Center Officer.
“Earlier, people had to travel all the way to Rangpur for eye check-ups," Joyosshree explained. “Now they’re receiving care right here in their own area.”
From screenings and diagnoses to providing spectacles or referring for surgery, Joyosshree is a trusted figure in her community. “People say they used to look unwell, but now after receiving treatment here, they feel better and can see clearly,” she says.
She’s especially proud of helping children from low-income families. “At some outreach sites, we provide free spectacles to poor children who couldn’t see the blackboard before—now they can see and study well.”
The vision centre is the only one of its kind in the area, and its impact is felt across the community. “People from many places respect us now,” Joyosshree says. “They believe I am doing meaningful work in eye care. So, if they come to me, they trust that they will be taken care of properly.”
Her role hasn’t just changed how others see her—it’s changed how she sees herself.
“Earlier, I didn’t even know that these types of eye problems existed or that village people could get treated,” she reflects. “Now, many of them come to me unable to see properly and leave with a diagnosis, glasses, or surgery—and can see again. That makes me feel honoured and proud.”
Image Gallery: Joyosshree providing quality eye care for her patient
Joyosshree’s success is built on support at home, too. Her husband works in a local organization that supports people who are blind, and her in-laws believe strongly in the work she does.
“I genuinely feel good knowing that we both are able to do something valuable for others,” she says. “Through my role, I’m able to help and care for the people of my community.”
Joyosshree discusses her patient's case during a telemedicine consultation.
For Joyosshree, loving your eyes isn’t just about seeing more clearly—it’s about being seen. It’s about trust, respect, and being part of a movement that is changing how communities think about health, gender, and access to care.
As one patient told her recently: “We were struggling with our eyesight, but after coming to you, we got the treatment we needed—and now we can see clearly.”
We’d like to thank Joyosshree and the dedicated ophthalmic team at Joldhaka Vision Centre for helping their community love their eyes this World Sight Day—and to our incredible supporters and partners whose generosity and dedication makes this vital work possible every day.
We know that Orbis supporters love their eyes, so why not share that love with someone else today.
This World Sight Day, help someone else love their eyes
