Bringing Clearer Vision to 4,680 Patients in Cox’s Bazar
A Critical Gap in Eye Care in Bangladesh
For Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar, an eye problem that might otherwise be easily diagnosed or treated can become a serious obstacle when specialized care is difficult to access.
The Life Vision Centre in Kutupalong, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar was created to help close that gap. Eye care services are particularly limited within the camps, making accessible screening, diagnosis, medication, and referral services an important part of protecting people from avoidable vision loss.
From May 2025 through April 2026, funding from Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) helped keep these services available to thousands of patients.
4,680 Patients Received Eye Care
Over the 12-month period, the center provided eye care to 4,680 patients, including 4,558 Rohingya refugees and 122 members of the host community.
Patients received free consultations, vision screenings, diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of eye conditions. Prescribed ophthalmic medications, including eye drops, creams and ointments, were also provided at no cost.
The center diagnosed and managed 65 different types of ophthalmic conditions, ranging from refractive errors and infections to glaucoma, cataracts and eye injuries.
Another 132 patients were screened for cataracts, allowing individuals requiring further treatment to be identified and referred for additional care.
Protecting Sight Before It Is Lost
The value of accessible eye care often lies in catching a problem before it becomes something more serious.
Throughout the year, patients were screened for common eye diseases, treated when care could be provided at the center, and referred when more specialized intervention was required. Education on eye health and cataracts also helped patients better understand when and why to seek treatment.
For someone experiencing an infection, injury or deteriorating vision, early diagnosis can mean the difference between a treatable condition and lasting impairment.
The center also provided follow-up care to monitor patients after treatment or referral, creating continuity between diagnosis and recovery.
Responding to Growing Demand
Demand for eye care remained consistently high throughout the reporting period. Patient numbers increased substantially during several months, reaching 637 visits in December 2025 alone
Managing this demand was challenging because specialized eye care providers and logistical resources within the camps remained limited.
Transporting and setting up medical equipment in Kutupalong also presented difficulties. Despite these constraints, the center remained continuously operational, allowing patients to access vision care throughout the year.
The project also strengthened screening and referral procedures so patients with conditions such as cataracts could be identified and directed toward appropriate treatment without unnecessary delay.
One Injury, Four Weeks to Recovery
For one 15-year-old girl living in Camp 1W, access to nearby eye care became especially important after an accidental fall injured her right eye.
When she arrived at the Life Vision Centre on October 16, 2025, her eye was red, swollen and painful. Her vision was blurred, and she was frightened that the injury might result in permanent sight loss.
A clinical examination found significant bleeding and swelling but, importantly, no permanent damage to her vision.
She received immediate evaluation, treatment guidance and follow-up care as her eye healed. Over the following weeks, the bleeding and swelling gradually disappeared.
Within four weeks, her eye had returned to a normal clinical appearance with no long-term complications.
For the teenager and her mother, being able to access professional care quickly brought both treatment and reassurance at a frightening moment.
A Year of Seeing More Clearly
Restoring or protecting someone’s sight can change far more than what they see. Vision affects a person’s ability to learn, move independently, work and carry out ordinary daily activities.
From May 2025 to April 2026, LIFE’s support helped make eye care accessible to 4,680 patients in Cox’s Bazar, while 132 people were screened for cataracts and thousands received access to professional assessment, treatment and medication.
Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) extends its sincere appreciation to the donors who made this year of vision care possible. Thank you for helping ensure that thousands of people could receive the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care they needed to protect something invaluable: their sight.
