This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles. (July 2026) |
Narayana Nethralaya is a super-specialty eye care hospital based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The institution operates several campuses across the city and provides ophthalmic services, along with medical research and community-based eye care programs.
| Narayana Nethralaya | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Multiple campuses in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India:
|
| History | |
| Founded | 1982 (by K. Bhujang Shetty) |
| Links | |
| Website | https://www.narayananethralaya.org |
History
editThe hospital was founded in 1982 by ophthalmologist Dr. K. Bhujang Shetty as a small clinic in Srirampuram. A larger facility was established in Rajajinagar in 1993.[1] Additional campuses were later opened in Bommasandra, Indiranagar, Bannerghatta Road, and Whitefield.[2]
In 2022, Narayana Nethralaya's free eye hospital was established in Tumkur inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Karnataka.[3][4]
Narayana Nethralaya has been actively involved in community outreach and eye donation programmes since its early years. The Dr. Rajkumar Eye Bank, established in 1994 at the hospital's Rajajinagar campus and inaugurated by actor Dr. Rajkumar, has facilitated thousands of corneal transplants.[5]
The eye bank gained further prominence after eye donations by members of Dr. Rajkumar's family. Parvathamma Rajkumar donated her eyes to the bank in 2017.[6] Following the death of actor Puneeth Rajkumar in October 2021 and his eye donation, which restored sight to four people, there was a significant surge in pledges. Narayana Nethralaya, which operates the eye bank, recorded nearly 1.28 lakh new eye pledges in the two years after his donation, along with the collection of 3,989 eyes for transplantation.[7][8]
Services and facilities
editNarayana Nethralaya provides specialised treatment in areas such as cataract, refractive surgery, retina, glaucoma, cornea, pediatric ophthalmology, and oculoplasty. The hospital has received NABH accreditation.[9]
Narayana Nethralaya provides emergency ophthalmic care, including treatment of firecracker related eye injuries that occur during festivals such as Diwali. The hospital has reported treating dozens of such cases annually in Bengaluru.[10][11]
The hospital performs corneal transplantations and operates the Dr. Rajkumar Eye Bank to address corneal blindness. India faces a large gap between the demand and supply of donor corneas, with millions waiting for transplants nationwide.[12]
Programs and research
editThe hospital runs KIDROP, a free tele ROP screening program launched in 2008 in partnership with the Government of Karnataka to prevent blindness in premature infants in rural areas. The program has expanded nationwide.[13][14]
Research activities are conducted through the GROW Research Laboratory. The hospital has developed gene therapies for ocular diseases and received approval for human clinical trials.[15] In 2025, it announced plans to reduce gene therapy costs by 80%.[16]
Other initiatives include collaboration on an augmented reality device for low vision patients[17] and the operation of eye banks such as the Dr. Rajkumar Eye Bank[18]
References
edit- ↑ "Doctor who took eyecare beyond hospital walls". The Times of India. 22 May 2023.
- ↑ "Achievers of Health Sector: Narayana Nethralaya: A Trusted Name in Eye Care". Bangalore Mirror. 2025-03-01.
- ↑ "Narayana Nethralaya's cash-counter-free eye hospital at Tumakuru to be launched on December 7". The Hindu. 7 December 2022.
- ↑ "CM inaugurates free eye hospital in Tumakuru". The Hindu. 8 December 2022.
- ↑ "Eye Bank". Narayana Nethralaya Eye Foundation.
- ↑ "Parvathamma Rajkumar donates her eyes to Narayana Nethralaya after death". The Times of India. 31 May 2017.
- ↑ "Puneeth's eye donation inspired nearly 1.28 lakh to pledge eyes in last two years; 3,989 eyes collected". The Hindu. 27 August 2023.
- ↑ "One lakh pledge eyes following Puneeth Rajkumar's death". The Hindu. 5 September 2022.
- ↑ "NABH accreditation for Narayana Nethralaya". The Hindu. 11 February 2011.
- ↑ "Over 90 cracker-related eye injuries reported across Bengaluru". Deccan Herald. 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "But with 150 cases, no respite from eye injuries". Bangalore Mirror. 24 October 2025.
- ↑ "Eye donation: Huge gap between demand and supply in India". The Hindu. 6 September 2022.
- ↑ "PPP with Karnataka government drives KIDROP's nationwide expansion in preventing infant blindness". The Hindu. 12 January 2025.
- ↑ "Taking subspecialty pediatric eye care to the community – The Narayana Nethralaya model". Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 68 (Supplement 2): S41–S46. February 2020. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_201_20 (inactive 18 December 2025).
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2025 (link) - ↑ "Bengaluru-based eye hospital to soon start human clinical trials of indigenous gene therapy for ocular diseases". The Hindu. 18 August 2023.
- ↑ "Narayana Nethralaya to cut gene therapy costs for eye diseases by 80%". The New Indian Express. 3 February 2025.
- ↑ "Eye hospital collaborates with private firm to develop augmented reality-powered device for those with low vision". The Hindu. 18 October 2024.
- ↑ "Give a missed call to pledge sight at Dr. Rajkumar eye bank". The Hindu. 2021-12-29. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-12-18.