Bengaluru, 10 July, 2026: Sankara Eye Hospitals, in association with VISION 2020 India, will host the 20th Annual VISION 2020 India Conference from July 10 to 12, 2026, in Bengaluru, bringing together leading ophthalmologists, optometrists, public health experts, policymakers, researchers, development partners and healthcare professionals from across the country to deliberate on the future of eye care in India.
Held under the theme “Innovation, Collaboration and Impact in Eye Care – Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047,” the three-day conference will serve as a national platform for exchanging knowledge, showcasing innovations and strengthening partnerships aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness while advancing equitable, accessible and high-quality eye care for all.
The scientific programme has been structured around five key thematic tracks:
- Innovations and Technological Solutions in Eye Care, highlighting emerging technologies and digital innovations that are transforming diagnosis, treatment and delivery of eye care services.
- Collaboration for Universal Eye Health, focusing on partnerships across government, healthcare institutions, NGOs and industry to improve access and outcomes.
- Impact, Equity, Sustainability and Quality in Eye Care, exploring evidence-based approaches that enhance patient outcomes while ensuring equitable and sustainable service delivery.
- Excellence in Optometry and Allied Ophthalmic Personnel, emphasizing skill development, education and the critical role of allied eye care professionals in strengthening the workforce.
- Sharing Knowledge Repository: Towards Organizational Excellence and Growth, promoting best practices, institutional learning and collaborative knowledge exchange among member organizations.
The conference will include a special leadership-focused common session chaired by Dr Rajesh Saini, President, VISION 2020 India, featuring distinguished speakers including Dr. R. V. Ramani, Peter Holland, Heidi Chase. Former Indian cricket captain and member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, will deliver a session on “Leadership Lessons from Cricket,” sharing insights on leadership, teamwork, resilience and high-performance that are equally relevant to healthcare and organizational excellence.
Speaking about the conference, Dr. Kaushik Murali, President – Medical Administration, Quality & Education, Sankara Eye Foundation India, said “As we celebrate the 20th edition of the VISION 2020 India Conference, our focus is firmly on the future of eye care. Advances in artificial intelligence, digital health and innovative service delivery models have the potential to transform access to quality eye care across India. This conference provides an important platform for clinicians, researchers, policymakers and healthcare leaders to collaborate, exchange ideas and develop scalable solutions that will contribute to achieving universal eye health and support India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Sankara movement, the conference marks an important milestone in India’s community eye care journey. For five decades, Sankara Eye Hospitals has remained committed to delivering quality eye care to underserved communities through innovation, outreach and sustainable service models.
The conference will feature an extensive scientific programme comprising keynote addresses, plenary discussions, panel discussions, paper presentations, workshops and interactive sessions. Experts from across India will deliberate on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital health solutions, quality improvement initiatives, community ophthalmology, public-private partnerships, and capacity building to strengthen the country’s eye care ecosystem.
Dr. Rajesh Saini, President, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – India, shared: “The 20th Annual Conference of VISION 2020 India reaffirms that the future of eye care will be defined not by individual institutions, but by the strength of our collective vision. As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, we have a unique opportunity to build an integrated, technology-enabled, and patient-centric eye care ecosystem that is equitable, resilient, and sustainable. Achieving this vision will require the spirit of SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, bringing together government, healthcare institutions, academia, civil society, industry, and development partners to drive innovation and scale impact.
Over the past two decades, VISION 2020 India has evolved into one of the country’s most influential collaborative platforms for community eye care, bringing together institutions committed to eliminating avoidable blindness through advocacy, capacity building, research and knowledge sharing. The 20th edition of the conference is expected to further strengthen these collaborations while shaping the future roadmap for eye health in India. The conference is expected to attract hundreds of delegates from across the country, offering opportunities for scientific exchange, policy dialogue and collaborative action that will help accelerate progress towards universal eye health.
Peter Holland, CEO, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), said: “India is demonstrating strong, sustained leadership in advancing eye health. It was a pleasure to hear more about this at the 20th Annual Conference of Vision 2020: Right to Sight India. The country’s elimination of trachoma, inclusion of cataract surgery in publicly financed health schemes, and expansion of eye‑care services – from early‑years screening to wider community access – shows what effective government action and cross‑sector collaboration can achieve.
About Sankara Eye Foundation
Sankara Eye Foundation India is a Not-for-Profit organization committed to providing quality eye care services to the poor and marginalised sections of society. Started as a small primary health care centre in the year 1977 by Dr R.V. Ramani and Dr Radha Ramani, today Sankara is one of the largest and fastest growing social enterprises managing 14 super speciality eye care hospitals in more than 10 states. The network hospitals are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to perform advanced eye surgeries. Sankara Eye Foundation India is a protagonist of the National Eye Health Care Movement in India, continuously transforming the eye care delivery structure through various Eye Care Initiatives across age groups, cutting-edge technology, scientific approach, innovation, research & training.
(The above press release is published as received and has not been edited, modified, or altered in any manner.)