Indian ophthalmologists power the shift toward scalable eye care

INDIAN ophthalmologists are powering a decisive shift toward scalable eye care by deploying innovative, technology-driven strategies that expand access beyond traditional hospital settings.

- Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru

Tele-ophthalmology, mobile care clinics, and community-based screenings help enable earlier detection of preventable vision conditions. Dr. Sarungbam Bobby, Ophthalmologist, Founder & Director, Wangkhei Eye Hospital notes that despite significant advancements in modern ophthalmology practice, India encounters a high burden of visual impairment, driven by persistent challenges. While the field has seen remarkable technological development, there is a lack of access to basic and specialised eye care across all regions.

Quoting PubMed, he said there are 70 million visually impaired and 4.95 million blind people in India. Systematic and structural problems in ophthalmology, such as accessibility of specialised care and lack of well-trained specialists, are the problems that need to be addressed to prevent avoidable blindness.