What does the next decade of eye care in India look like?

India stands at the precipice of rapid transformation. Each day, leaps in progress in technology and healthcare, widens access to innovation—yet, too often, eye care lingers as an afterthought. Ironically, sight remains one of the pillars of fulfilling lives: it empowers children to excel in school, boosts adults in their workplaces, and sustains elders in independent, dignified living.

As we look ahead, India’s eye care blueprint must be anchored in compassion, ensuring that every innovation and initiative serves people first. Beyond policies and procedures, the focus must be on people. This involves making care seamless to obtain, deeply empathetic in delivery, and innovative in its reach. Here’s what this evolving journey may entail.

Connecting eye health histories

Imagine an era where your ocular medical records travel with you, seamlessly accessible in any clinic nationwide. Forget shuffling papers—secure digital access would grant doctors immediate understanding of your background. That kind of integrated system is essential for India.

A robust digital eye health network could enable earlier detection of cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Though digital scaffolding exists, eye care must be prioritised as a necessity, not a luxury, within these frameworks. It must adapt to the nation’s diversity—bridging age, region, language, and class divides.

Smarter tools, wider reach

The vast expanse of India poses serious challenges to equal care. Countless rural residents have never experienced a basic eye check. Enter artificial intelligence-powered screening—a potential revolution.

Mobile diagnostic vans equipped with intelligent imaging devices are transforming outcomes in isolated villages. They’ve screened thousands, catching critical cases in time to preserve vision. These innovations aren’t substitutes for doctors; instead, they amplify their impact, making invisible communities visible.

Putting women at the centre

Indian women are 1.4 times likelier to suffer visual impairment, yet much less likely to seek treatment. Financial dependence, restricted mobility, and entrenched social norms inhibit their access, especially as many prioritise caregiving over their own needs.

We can rewrite this narrative by bringing services to women. Clinics with flexible schedules, female-led teams, and safe, supportive settings encourage women to come forward. Female health workers cultivate trust—vital, particularly in rural or traditional areas. When women access care, whole families flourish.

Technology with compassion

Digital healthcare has opened doors, but the human element must not be lost. While telemedicine can connect remote villagers with city specialists, the absence of a local guide may leave patients confused or anxious.

Lasting models blend tech with warm, on-the-ground support—community health agents, facilitators, and coordinators who make innovation approachable. Technology’s real value lies in building bridges, not creating distance.

A shared vision

India holds an enviable position: strong local networks, a hunger for new ideas, and communities poised for transformation. Paired with inclusive policy and thoughtful planning, these assets can birth a world-leading eye care model.

But it is important to note that progress cannot be defined by elite machines or opulent hospitals. It must be rooted in reliable basics, delivered fairly and compassionately.

Eye health is not just about restoring sight; it is about giving people a fair chance at life. As we move forward, eye care in India must be more than a medical service, it needs to be a movement. We have the tools and the reach to make this happen, but we need to act with urgency and empathy.

Think about it: a child who can finally see the blackboard, a mother who can safely walk to the market, a grandfather who can read his morning paper again — this isn’t just about treating eyes, it is about changing lives.

(Bharath Balasubramaniam is president – operations & administration, Sankara, Eye Foundation, India. bharath@sankaraeye.com)

Published – December 06, 2025 05:33 pm IST