Why in News?
The Indian Army and Indian Air Force recently launched the Mega Advanced Surgical Eye Camp “Operation DRISHTI” at Military Hospital Namkum in Ranchi, Jharkhand (June 15–19, 2026), aiming to restore vision for over 200 beneficiaries through free advanced eye surgeries.
Key Features & Implementation
- The Organizing Body: Driven by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), utilizing joint, inter-service coordination between specialized ophthalmic teams from the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
- Leadership: The surgical operations were spearheaded by Brigadier (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Head of Ophthalmology at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in Delhi Cantonment.
- Advanced Procedures: The camps offer state-of-the-art ophthalmic procedures including Phacoemulsification for cataracts, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), and specialized Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections for retinal diseases.
- Logistical Support: World-class surgical kits and high-end medical equipment were airlifted directly via Indian Air Force aircraft to establish immediate high-tech operation theaters in remote regions.
Vision and Objectives
- Eradicating Blindness: Aims to eliminate avoidable and preventable blindness while radically improving local access to premium tertiary eye-care services.
- Civil-Military Cooperation: Acts as a critical bridge of social resilience, extending specialized military infrastructure and doctors to help underserved local civilian populations.
- Ethos: Promoted under the military medical corps’ core operational resolve of “Seva Paramo Dharma” (Service Before Self).
Nationwide Expansion Footprint
- Inception: Officially commenced its first edition in Dehradun in December 2024.
- Cumulative Impact: Since its inception, the operation has successfully screened over 75,000 patients and performed more than 3,000 sight-restoring operations across India.
- Completed Locations: To date, the mobile mission has established specialized camps across 9 critical or remote regions:
- Dehradun
- Jaipur
- Bagdogra
- Udhampur
- Lakshadweep
- Bhuj
- Gorakhpur
- Leh-Ladakh
- Ranchi
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