Organised under the theme, “Innovation, Collaboration and Impact in Eye Care – Vision for Developed India 2047,” the conference served as a national platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing innovations and strengthening partnerships aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness while advancing equitable, accessible, and high-quality eye care across India.
The scientific programme featured extensive discussions across five thematic tracks: Innovations and Technological Solutions in Eye Care; Collaboration for Universal Eye Health; Impact, Equity, Sustainability and Quality in Eye Care; Excellence in Optometry and Allied Ophthalmic Personnel; and Sharing Knowledge Repository: Towards Organizational Excellence and Growth. The sessions focused on emerging technologies, digital health innovations, collaborative healthcare models, quality improvement initiatives, and workforce development strategies designed to strengthen the country's eye care ecosystem.
A special leadership session chaired by Dr. Rajesh Saini featured distinguished speakers including Dr. R. V. Ramani, Peter Holland, and Heidi Chase. Former Indian cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth delivered a keynote session titled “Leadership Lessons from Cricket,” drawing parallels between leadership in sports and healthcare.
Addressing the gathering, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, former Indian cricket captain and Goodwill Ambassador of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight India, said that vision and eyesight are fundamental to every aspect of life, including reading, writing, education, and sports. He expressed pride in supporting VISION 2020 and its mission to eliminate avoidable blindness in India. Reflecting on his cricketing career, he said that self-belief, teamwork, innovation, and hard work make even the most ambitious goals achievable, adding that the collective efforts of eye care professionals across the country could help realise the vision of a blindness-free India by 2047.
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Sankara movement, the conference marked a significant milestone in India's community eye care journey. The event celebrated Sankara Eye Foundation India's five decades of service in delivering quality eye care to underserved communities through innovation, outreach programmes, and sustainable service models.
Peter Holland, Chief Executive Officer of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, said that eye health has evolved beyond being solely a healthcare concern and has become a critical global development and economic priority that directly influences education, employment, productivity, and community participation. He emphasised that strong leadership, collaboration, and a unified approach across the eye care sector are essential for eliminating avoidable sight loss and expanding universal access to eye care. He added that India's experience, innovation, and commitment could play a pivotal role in shaping global action and strengthening international efforts to ensure quality vision care for all.
The conference featured keynote addresses, plenary sessions, panel discussions, scientific paper presentations, workshops, and interactive sessions. Experts deliberated on artificial intelligence, digital health, community ophthalmology, public-private partnerships, quality improvement, and capacity building to reinforce India's eye care ecosystem.
Padma Shri awardee Dr. R. V. Ramani, Founder and Managing Trustee of Sankara Eye Foundation, said that Developed India is not merely a government programme but a national movement requiring collective leadership across healthcare, education, industry, and civil society. He stated that healthy citizens, skilled youth, inclusive growth, and sustainable institutions would remain central to India's journey towards becoming a developed nation. Emphasising the role of eye care institutions, he said that restoring sight, preventing avoidable blindness, and strengthening healthcare capacity enable every citizen to learn, work, and live with dignity. Dr. Ramani also highlighted that as Sankara enters its golden jubilee year after completing 3.3 million free eye surgeries, the next five decades should demonstrate the power of collective leadership, compassion, and sustainability.
The conference reaffirmed the importance of collaborative action among government agencies, healthcare institutions, academic organisations, civil society, industry, and development partners in achieving universal eye health while supporting the vision of Developed India 2047.
Speaking during the conference, Dr. Rajesh Saini, President of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight India, said that the organisation brings together more than 210 member institutions, whose combined contribution accounts for nearly 50 to 60 per cent of the one crore eye surgeries performed in India during the previous year. He said the conference was intended to strengthen the collective commitment to delivering accessible and quality eye care for every citizen while contributing to the national vision of Developed India 2047.
The conference concluded after attracting hundreds of delegates from across the country, ending with renewed commitments towards innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based approaches to strengthen India's eye care ecosystem and accelerate progress towards eliminating avoidable blindness.
Mr. Gokul V. Subramaniam, President of Intel India, said that although India has achieved remarkable progress through digital transformation and public welfare initiatives, bridging the remaining gaps in agriculture, education, and healthcare requires collective action, innovation, and empathy. He stated that while technology can accelerate development, genuine progress is driven by character, compassion, and shared responsibility towards the most marginalised communities. He added that Sankara Eye Foundation exemplifies these values by demonstrating how service, sustainability, and purpose-driven leadership can transform lives and contribute to nation-building.
Sankara Eye Foundation India is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing quality eye care services to poor and marginalised communities. Established in 1977 by Dr. R. V. Ramani and Dr. Radha Ramani as a small primary healthcare centre, the organisation has grown into one of India's largest and fastest-growing social enterprises, operating 14 super-speciality eye hospitals across more than 10 states. Its hospitals are equipped with advanced technology to perform complex eye surgeries. The foundation continues to play a leading role in India's national eye health movement by transforming eye care delivery through community initiatives, cutting-edge technology, scientific research, innovation, training, and comprehensive eye care programmes for people of all age groups.
The successful conclusion of the 20th Annual VISION 2020 India Conference reinforced the collective resolve of healthcare leaders, policymakers, researchers, and institutions to eliminate avoidable blindness through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable healthcare models. The event also underscored the critical role of quality eye care in advancing inclusive development and supporting India's long-term vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
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