Mankind Pharma, in academic association with the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) and the Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI), organised Vision Continuum 2026 to raise public awareness about corneal health, eye donation and childhood myopia. Held under the theme “Connecting Care. Preserving Sight. Across Generations,” the initiative aimed to promote early detection of eye problems and encourage timely treatment and regular eye check-ups.
The programme brought together leading ophthalmologists and healthcare stakeholders to discuss key challenges in eye care and the need to educate parents and communities. It focused on improving awareness about corneal transplantation, increasing public participation in eye donation and supporting children’s vision development.
As part of the initiative, Mankind Pharma, in association with AIOS, introduced the Vision Growth Card to help parents track their children’s visual development. The card is designed to encourage regular follow-ups with eye-care professionals and support early identification of vision-related problems.
Mr. Sudipta Roy, Senior President – Sales and Marketing, Mankind Pharma Ltd., highlighted the growing concern around childhood myopia. He noted that, according to the data cited, the prevalence of myopia among children could reach 48.14% by 2050. He stressed the importance of early attention, regular monitoring and timely intervention to protect children’s eyesight.
Dr. J. S. Titiyal, President of AIOS, said corneal blindness remains a major cause of preventable and treatable vision loss in India. He explained that corneal transplantation can help restore sight in patients with severe corneal damage caused by disease, injury or infection. He also called for greater public awareness and participation in eye donation to address the shortage of donor corneas.
Dr. Namrata Sharma, Scientific Chairperson of AIOS, highlighted the gap between the demand for and availability of donor corneas. During 2025–26, India collected 54,048 corneas and performed 28,323 corneal transplants, while the country requires around 200,000 corneas annually. She emphasised that regular monitoring and proper documentation through tools such as the Vision Growth Card can help ensure timely care for children.
The programme was attended by Dr. Pravin K. Vaddavalli, Programme Director of the Universal Cornea Care Mission, along with other eye-care experts.Through Vision Continuum 2026, the three organisations aim to strengthen public awareness, promote responsible eye donation and encourage better eye-care practices across generations.
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