Sankara Eye Foundation India Designated ORBIS Digital Training Hub for South India

The Sankara Eye Foundation India has been recognised as an ORBIS Digital Training Hub (DTH) for South India, with an advanced digital simulation and ophthalmic training facility inaugurated at Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru. The inauguration was led by Dr. Prof. Sujatha Rathod, Director of the Directorate of Medical Education, Government of Karnataka, and attended by Dr. R. V. Ramani, Founder & Managing Trustee of Sankara Eye Foundation India, Mr. Vijay Bharadwaj, former Test cricketer and guest of honour, Dr. Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director of Orbis India, and Ms. Kathleen Sherwin, President and CEO of Orbis International.

Rationale and Need

India has approximately 15 ophthalmologists per million people, with specialists largely concentrated in urban centres, underscoring the need to expand access to quality training and specialist expertise. Digital Training Hubs address this gap by combining simulation, tele‑mentoring, tele‑medicine, tele‑education and hands‑on training, enabling eye‑care professionals to practise skills, receive expert guidance and continue learning over time.

Facility and Training Offerings

The Bengaluru hub integrates advanced simulation and virtual‑reality technology with hands‑on infrastructure. It includes simulators for cataract surgery, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), eye anatomy and clinical skills, alongside wet‑lab‑based surgical training. The controlled environment allows repeated practice, structured feedback and progressive competency development. Structured training programmes will cover Glaucoma, Medical Retina and Uveitis, combining simulation‑based learning with clinical observation, consultant mentorship and hands‑on training. Programme formats include short‑term observerships, a three‑month training programme and a one‑year sandwich fellowship. The hub also trains ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and technicians, not just ophthalmologists.

Digital Extension and COVID‑19 Experience

Learning extends beyond the physical hub through Cybersight, ORBIS’s online platform offering courses, webinars, surgical demonstrations, virtual case discussions and access to international experts. Consultation services enable professionals to seek guidance on complex cases. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Virtual Flying Eye Hospital programme connected 160 ophthalmologists, residents, nurses, biomedical engineers and technicians from 15 partner hospitals across 10 states, demonstrating the ability of technology to deliver specialist mentorship remotely.

Network Impact

The Bengaluru hub joins a network of four Digital Training Hubs established in India. Collectively, these hubs have facilitated more than 2,200 trainings for ophthalmic professionals, with women accounting for 68% of participants. The model recognises the importance of training the broader eye‑care team.

Statements from Key Stakeholders

  • Dr. Sujatha Rathod (Director, Directorate of Medical Education, Karnataka) said the hub combines simulation, technology and hands‑on learning, helping young ophthalmologists develop skills in a controlled environment before treating patients, thereby improving confidence and surgical outcomes.
  • Mr. Vijay Bharadwaj highlighted training as the foundation of excellence and praised the initiative for enabling skill development through simulation before patient care, encouraging other institutions to invest in similar innovations.
  • Ms. Kathleen Sherwin emphasized that distance should never be a barrier to learning, noting that the hub’s digital components will connect professionals with high‑quality training and mentorship wherever they are.
  • Dr. Rishi Raj Borah described the hub as a new approach to ophthalmic education that can build a continuously learning eye‑care workforce across South India.
  • Dr. R. V. Ramani called the hub a significant boon for eye‑care professionals across Bengaluru, Karnataka and South India, strengthening the quality of eye care and creating lasting social impact.

About Sankara Eye Foundation India

Sankara Eye Foundation India is a not‑for‑profit organization founded in 1977 by Dr. R. V. Ramani and Dr. Radha Ramani. It now manages 14 super‑speciality eye‑care hospitals across more than 10 states, equipped with state‑of‑the‑art technology for advanced eye surgeries. The foundation is a leading proponent of the National Eye Health Care Movement in India, driving transformation through initiatives across age groups, cutting‑edge technology, research and training.

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