Regional and independent eye hospitals are creating a space for affordable eye care

As demand for specialised eye care continues to rise across India, what are the key structural and operational challenges currently shaping the ophthalmology sector?

The key concern is the lack of specialty eye care infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Patients have to travel to urban centres for treatment, which results in delayed treatment and inconsistent follow-up visits, leading to post-treatment complications.

• Most rural areas in the country face low literacy levels, and access to reliable information about preventive eye care is quite limited. As a result, timely treatment or early detection is scarce, leading to complications that are otherwise avoidable.

• India faces a critical shortage of trained ophthalmologists, especially in far-reaching areas. While the government has been undertaking many steps, the gap is still significant. Long waiting periods for surgeries and even OPD consultations lead to significant delays in preventive eye-related challenges.

⁠India continues to carry a significant burden of preventable blindness, particularly from cataract and glaucoma. In your view, where do the biggest gaps still exist in early detection and timely intervention?

The infrastructural gap lies in the lack of access to public information about preventive eye care and how blindness, in most cases, can be prevented if proper treatment is undertaken at the initial stages.

Some eye conditions at their initial stages do not show any pain or symptoms, reducing the scope for early treatment and prevention. Glaucoma, although treatable, often appears asymptomatic, causing irreversible damage to vision. A majority of people seek proper medical intervention only after experiencing noticeable discomfort, when the disease may have significantly progressed into severe and complicated eye conditions.

⁠The adoption of advanced diagnostics and surgical technologies is reshaping ophthalmic care globally. How are emerging eye hospitals balancing technology investments with the need to keep treatment affordable and accessible?

The ophthalmology sector has viewed multiple advancements in recent years, wherein latest innovations, especially in minimally invasive cataract/glaucoma procedures, advanced retinal imaging, etc., have led to improved precision and treatment outcomes. While patient outcomes have definitely improved, the macro issue — especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is ensuring that the cost for advanced care remains accessible and affordable to the wider masses.

More recently, many regional eye hospitals have undertaken a phased approach towards investing in technology upgrades. Not just high-end infrastructure, the institutions are focusing on technology related to early diagnosis, reducing time of surgery, patient safety, and advancements that help doctors and caregivers treat the patients efficiently.

⁠With healthcare delivery gradually moving beyond metro cities, what role do regional and independent eye hospitals play in expanding access to advanced ophthalmic care in India?

Many enterprises and independent institutions are gradually identifying the rising demand of efficient eye care beyond metros. They have become a catalyst in expanding access to advanced eye care by enabling outreach screening programs, organising preventive eye care camps, and building referral networks in difficult-to-reach, underdeveloped areas where there is a lack of basic eye care awareness and facilities.

Regional and independent eye hospitals are creating a space for affordable eye care, in order to deliver timely diagnosis and prevent critical eye care challenges before they become severe.

⁠As ophthalmology moves towards technology-led and minimally invasive interventions, how are eye care providers balancing clinical innovation with operational scalability, affordability, and infrastructure readiness?

Tier I cities are much better positioned for scaling innovation in an efficient manner, as there is better access to advanced services and better technological readiness.

Application of advanced diagnostics, screening and precision-driven surgery is being observed at a relatively higher rate due to adequate infrastructure, increased patient awareness and rising demand for better outcomes and faster recovery time. Whereas in case of Tier II, Tier III and rural areas, low awareness about preventive eye care, late detection, lack of skilled ophthalmologists and lack of advanced infrastructure, digital as well as clinical is prevalent.

Healthcare providers are focusing on a phase-wise implementation strategy for eye care where early screening, outreach programmes, portable diagnostic tools, and basic primary eye care services are first being integrated into the existing eye care framework, prior to the wider implementation of innovative technologies. For institutions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the goal must be to ensure that best-in-class ophthalmic care is sustainably and economically delivered to the masses, irrespective of their economic backgrounds.