Through knowledge-sharing and awareness-building efforts, the programme aimed to empower parents and communities with information to make informed decisions about eye care, while highlighting the importance of preserving sight across generations.
As part of the initiative, Mankind Pharma developed the Vision Growth Card in association with AIOS to help track children's visual development and encourage regular follow-ups between parents and eye-care professionals.
The collaborative effort brings together innovation, education and awareness to promote better eye health, empower communities with knowledge and create a lasting positive impact on society.
The programme was attended by Dr. J. S. Titiyal, President, AIOS; Dr. Namrata Sharma, Scientific Chairperson, AIOS; Dr. Pravin K. Vaddavalli, Program Director, Universal Cornea Care Mission; among other leading ophthalmologists and healthcare stakeholders.
Mr. Sudipta Roy, Senior President – Sales and Marketing, Mankind Pharma Ltd., said that the prevalence of myopia in children may increase to 48.14% in 2050 as per the data. He highlighted the need for early attention, regular monitoring and timely intervention to address childhood myopia.
Dr. J. S. Titiyal, President, AIOS, highlighted that corneal blindness remains a major cause of preventable and treatable vision loss in India. He noted that transplantation may offer patients with severe corneal damage caused by disease, injury or infection an opportunity to restore sight.
Emphasising the need to bridge the gap between the demand for and availability of donor corneas, Dr. Titiyal called for greater public awareness and participation in eye donation. He also highlighted the potential of the Vision Growth Card to encourage parents to actively monitor their children's visual development and ensure regular eye-care follow-ups.
Dr. Namrata Sharma, Scientific Chairperson, AIOS, emphasised the urgent need to strengthen India's eye donation and corneal transplantation ecosystem.
In 2025–26, 54,048 corneas were collected, while 28,323 corneal transplants were performed across the country. With India requiring approximately 200,000 corneas annually, the current collection of around 54,000 corneas underscores the substantial gap between demand and availability.
Dr. Sharma noted that although eye donation and transplantation have improved in the post-COVID period, the numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Highlighting the importance of continuity in childhood vision care, she added that regular monitoring and structured documentation through tools such as the Vision Growth Card can support timely intervention and improve communication between parents and eye-care professionals.
Initiatives such as Vision Continuum 2026 and the Vision Growth Card aim to promote better eye care and enhance awareness among the general public, with a focus on corneal health, eye donation and childhood myopia.
About Mankind Pharma
Mankind Pharma (BSE: 543904 | NSE: MANKIND) is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in India, focusing on the domestic market with its Pan India presence. The company operates at the intersection of the Indian pharmaceutical formulations and consumer healthcare sectors, with the aim of providing quality products at affordable prices.
Mankind Pharma is a leading player in the domestic pharmaceuticals business, with a presence across acute and chronic therapeutic areas, including anti-infectives, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, antidiabetic, neuro/CNS, gynaecology, VMN and respiratory, among others. Its strategy includes increasing its presence in chronic therapeutic areas.
In the consumer healthcare business, the company operates in categories including sexual wellness products, pregnancy detection, emergency contraceptives, antacid powders, vitamin and mineral supplements and anti-acne preparations, among others, with several category-leading brands.
Following the acquisition of BSV, Mankind Pharma has further strengthened its leadership in the domestic women’s health segment.
The company's distribution network includes a field force of 18,500+ professionals and a reach extending to over five lakh doctors across urban and rural markets.
Mankind Pharma has 32 manufacturing facilities producing a wide range of dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, syrups, vials, ampoules, blow fill seal, soft and hard gels, creams, contraceptives and other over-the-counter products.
The company has a consistent track record of product innovation through 7 dedicated R&D facilities backed by more than 740 scientists.
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