The National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in the year 1976 with the goal of reducing prevalence of blindness to 0.3 per cent. Main causes of blindness include Cataract, Refractive Errors, Corneal Blindness, Childhood Blindness, Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy Services available under the programme include free Cataract surgery for the poor, detection and correction of refractive errors in children and treatment of corneal blindness by corneal transplantation from donated eyes.

The programme implementation is decentralised and activities are coordinated by State/District Blindness Control Societies through out the country. During the year 2005-06, more than 48 lakh operations were performed in the country of which 90 per cent were implanted with Intra Ocular Lenses (IOL). 2.94 Crore students were screened for refractive errors of which 7.26 lakh were detected with refractive errors and 3.50 lakh poor children were given free glasses. Nearly 25,000 eye donations take place annually in the country. During the 10th Plan, emphasis is being given to develop capacities for treatment of childhood blindness, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy through training of eye surgeons and supply of ophthalmic equipments.