India needs to sharpen its focus on the comprehensive eye care front with the setting up of specialized ophthalmic centres manned by experienced ophthalmologists at every nook and corner of the country. At the same time its well established pharma industry will need to advance its research initiatives in novel ophthalmic drugs, said Dr D Ramamurthy, chairman, The Eye Foundation and chairperson, Scientific Committee of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS).

Comprehensive eye care equipped with hi-tech instruments are seen as commercially viable business models. There is also considerable interest evinced by the venture capitalists and private equity players to invest in such models. We are convinced that there is a huge unmet demand for quality eye care nationally. In addition, the high cost of patented ophthalmic drugs can be substituted if the Indian pharma industry enhances the research on developing novel ophthalmic drugs and delivery devices, Dr Ramamurthy told Pharmabiz.

Among the visible trends are laser-surgical cataract removal,  corneal transplants bringing down refractive errors, offering good vision without spectacles besides allowing patients quicker recovery, faster rehabilitation and earlier return to work, he said.

With the growing incidence of eye diseases and disorders, there is a shift from mere vision related conditions like cataract addressed by the Union government towards sight threatening conditions like  glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), infections and eye fatigue. There is a visible delay in getting the quick treatment and therefore there is a need for a number of full-fledged centres in towns around a large facility. This would be the only way to tackle and handle all eye disorders under one roof. Early detection would lead to faster cure and a variety of options have transformed ophthalmic care too, said Dr Ramamurthy who was in Bengaluru for the launch of his maiden centre in Karnataka.

The Bengaluru centre, spanning over 55,000 sq ft with around 75 experts, is a nodal centre for Karnataka addressing routine & specialized eye cares. It would offer latest surgical options and procedures in refractive correction surgery with the ‘Laser Refractive Suite’ surgery for vitreo-retinal diseases using advanced constellation vitrectomy system and other services; cornea including computer vision clinic, stated Dr Chitra Ramamurthy, medical director, The Eye Foundation.

The Coimbatore-based The Eye Foundation (TEF) founded in 1984, is a pioneer in the signature centres model where smaller centres could access the large facilities for complicated procedures. Further, to address needs of the poor patients, a dedicated charitable wing “Netra Jyothi Trust” offered subsidised care.

TEF has six signature centres in Tamil Nadu. By mid-2014, it would expand into Karnataka at Mysore and Hubli, Kerala in  Kochi besides Chennai. The capital expenditure envisaged is projected at Rs.80 crore. Over the next three years, plans are underway for a pan India presence which would be funded through internal accruals and other avenues.