For people in remote communities, access to eye care may depend on more than the availability of treatment. Getting to a clinic, understanding eligibility and navigating costs can all become barriers.
Ilina Mukherjee decided to work on those barriers. In 2021, she founded The Lens Project, a community-focused initiative supporting eye care in rural West Bengal, India. Her work was recognised in the 2026 Diana Award, announced on 4 November.
Taking care closer to the community
The Lens Project works with local volunteers, village councils, medical professionals and hospitals to reach people who can struggle to access ordinary eye-care services. Its website describes efforts to organise screenings, diagnoses, corrective lenses and referrals for cataract treatment, particularly for older adults and people affected by the stigma associated with leprosy.
Working alongside established healthcare providers matters. Community volunteers can help people learn about services and seek assessment, while qualified clinicians are responsible for diagnosis and any surgical treatment. The project aims to make that pathway easier to navigate.
Thousands reached, according to the award
The Diana Award’s official profile reports that the initiative has screened more than 4,500 people and helped facilitate over 1,000 free cataract and complex retinal procedures over five years. These numbers are attributed to the award’s account of the project; NewsPositive has not independently audited individual clinical outcomes.
The distinction is important: the project helps connect patients with care rather than performing all those procedures itself. Its contribution sits in the practical work of identifying need, building relationships and helping people reach professional services.
Beyond one founder
Mukherjee has also considered how the project can continue through local partnerships beyond her individual involvement. The Diana Award notes her interest in exploring low-cost machine-learning approaches to extend future reach; those ideas should not be confused with a clinically proven screening product.
Her recognition highlights a quieter kind of innovation. Sometimes progress comes not from inventing a new treatment, but from helping existing services reach people who might otherwise miss them.
Sources: The Diana Award 2026 Roll of Honour; The Lens Project — official site; 2026 Diana Award announcement.
Featured photograph: illustrative image of eyeglasses; not Ilina Mukherjee, The Lens Project or any patient. Photograph by David Travis / Unsplash.
Find more reasons for hope: Sign up free for The Positive 10 newsletter and discover inspiring people every week. Know a changemaker? Nominate someone here.
