Taking eye care to potters in Bangladesh

For generations, the artisans of Bangladesh have crafted more than clay. They have shaped identity, culture and history. With roots tracing back to the ancient civilisations of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, and archaeological discoveries in Mahasthangarh, Paharpur and Mainamoti, pottery stands as a proud symbol of Bangladesh’s heritage.

Today, while the craft has evolved in style and technique, the artisans who keep this tradition alive face a serious challenge: declining eye health.

Potters work long hours surrounded by dust, ash, fumes and intense sunlight, often earning around 250 BDT (about $3.20 AUD) a day. These conditions put them at risk of developing eye problems including corneal abrasions from airborne particles, chronic dry eye, irritation from smoke, cataracts, refractive errors and glaucoma.

Local potters in Bijoypur, Cumilla attend an eye health awareness session organised by The Fred Hollows Foundation and Bangladesh Jatiyo Andhay Kallayan Samity (BJAKS), learning how to protect their eyesight while working.

Photo credit: Roksana Kamal

Without access to proper care or awareness of prevention, many potters live with avoidable vision loss.

Recognising this issue, The Fred Hollows Foundation Bangladesh, with support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), recently held a Basic Eye Care Awareness Session in Bijoypur, Cumilla, a town well known for its pottery.

The session was conducted by a senior medical officer from Bangladesh Jatiyo Andhay Kallayan Samity (BJAKS) and reached 62 local potters. Participants received practical guidance on common eye hazards in their work, preventive care techniques and the importance of regular eye examinations.

By increasing awareness and access to information, the Foundation is helping these artisans protect their eyesight – their most valuable tool.

A Bangladeshi artisan carefully hand-carves intricate designs into clay, preserving the country’s rich pottery tradition.

Photo credit: Roksana Kamal

Our Work in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is home to more than 164 million people, making it the eighth most populous country in the world. Despite progress, millions still live with avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

• 750,000 people are blind

• More than 6 million people have visual impairment

• 75.8% of blindness is caused by cataract

• Nearly 1.3 million children have low vision due to refractive errors

• More than 10 million people live with diabetes, and 1.85 million are at risk of diabetic retinopathy

Since 2008, The Fred Hollows Foundation has worked with government agencies and local partners to eliminate avoidable blindness in Bangladesh.

Our work focuses on cataract, refractive error and diabetic retinopathy through:

• Training and upskilling medical staff

• Renovating and equipping eye care facilities

• Integrating eye health into general healthcare

• Raising awareness about eye disease prevention

The Foundation was also the first eye health organisation to deliver services to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, restoring sight to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

Through these efforts, The Foundation is helping build a future where no one in Bangladesh is needlessly blind or vision impaired.