Department of Ophthalmology Observes World Sight Day 2026 with Awareness Programme on Eye Donation

World Sight Day 2026: “Love Your Eyes”

The Department of Ophthalmology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), B.G. Nagara, held an educational programme for World Sight Day on 29 October 2026, under the aegis of the Karnataka Ophthalmic Society. It ran from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm in Lecture Hall 1, AIMS, and 230 participants attended. This year’s theme was “Love Your Eyes.” The programme aimed to:

• raise awareness of eye health and the importance of caring for one’s eyes
• explain eye donation, hospital corneal retrieval and corneal transplantation
• dispel common myths about eye donation

Patronage and Guidance

The programme was held with the divine blessings of Parama Poojya Jagadguru Padmabhushana Sri Sri Sri Dr. Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji. It was under the patronage of Parama Poojya Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, Hon’ble Chancellor, ACU. The co-patrons were Dr. S.N. Sridhara, Vice Chancellor, ACU, and Lt. Col. L. Shri Harsha, Registrar, ACU.

The programme was guided by:

• Dr. K.M. Shivakumar, Dean-cum-Principal, AIMS
• Dr. Tejaswi H.L., Vice Principal, AIMS
• Dr. Ravi K.S., Chief of Hospital, Adichunchanagiri Hospital & Research Centre

Resource Persons

• Dr. Manjunatha S, Cornea Consultant, Samruddhi Nethralaya and Charmalaya, Tumakuru
• Dr. Eada Shamili Ratna, Fellow in Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Samruddhi Nethralaya and Charmalaya, Tumakuru

Organising Team

Dr. Niharika Shetty, Professor and Head, Department of Ophthalmology, was the Organising Chairperson. Dr. Abhilash B, Associate Professor, was the Organising Secretary. Also present were:

• Dr. D.N. Prakash, Professor and Unit Chief
• Dr. Srinivas, Professor
• Dr. Kiran Kumar and Dr. Shashikumar, Assistant Professors
• the senior residents and faculty of the department

Scientific Sessions

The programme opened with registration, a pre-test, the inauguration and a welcome address. Three sessions followed:

• Facts and Myths of Eye Donation: Dr. Manjunatha S cleared up common misconceptions and explained who can donate eyes and how the process works.
• Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme: Dr. Eada Shamili Ratna explained how corneas are retrieved in a hospital and how hospitals can increase the supply of donor corneas.
• Basics of Corneal Transplantation (Keratoplasty): Dr. Manjunatha S covered the indications, the surgical approaches, and how donor tissue restores sight in people with corneal blindness.

The programme closed with a reflection session, a vote of thanks and a post-test.

Outcomes

Participants learned about eye donation, how corneas are retrieved and the basics of corneal transplantation. The sessions cleared up many doubts and encouraged a positive attitude towards eye donation. Students were motivated to look after their own eyes and to speak up for eye donation.

Conclusion

The World Sight Day programme helped participants understand how eye donation can restore sight, and contributed to the fight against avoidable blindness. The Department of Ophthalmology thanks the resource persons, institutional leadership and all participants for making the programme a success.