Sankara Eye Hospital in India has entered into a strategic partnership with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to strengthen research, education, and innovation in paediatric ophthalmology. The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood eye disorders.
The initiative will focus on several key areas, including myopia management, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), ocular tumours, and other vision-related conditions affecting children. Researchers and clinicians from both institutions will work together on academic exchanges, joint studies, and the development of new technologies to improve patient outcomes.
A major priority of the partnership is identifying effective ways to slow the progression of myopia among children. The collaboration will also explore advanced approaches for diagnosing and treating retinal diseases and eye cancers in younger patients.
“Fortunately, recent ophthalmic developments are transforming care. Evidence-based myopia frameworks, such as low-dose atropine therapy and specialised optical designs, are actively slowing near-sightedness in children,” said Divya Caculo, Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist at Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru.
She further noted that the programme will include genetic testing for inherited retinal conditions as well as the use of wide-field retinal imaging and anti-VEGF therapies in the management of ROP.
“I view artificial intelligence-enabled screening tools as a foundational paradigm shift, allowing clinicians to map and detect disorders at vastly earlier stages to bridge accessibility gaps in underserved communities,” Caculo said.
In addition, the partnership plans to implement school-based eye screening initiatives to help identify vision problems early and ensure timely referrals for treatment. According to Namratha Hegde, Optometry Faculty and Lead – Institutional Research at Sankara Eye Hospital, these programmes will play a vital role in detecting refractive errors among schoolchildren.
The collaboration between Sankara Eye Hospital and CUHK marks an important step toward advancing paediatric eye care through research, technology, and early intervention programmes. By combining expertise and innovation, the two institutions aim to improve access to quality vision care for children and address emerging eye health challenges more effectively.
(The above image is for illustrative purposes only)