AI-Powered Eye Care Initiative Launched in Saran to Screen 10 Million Patients

Saran: A new AI-based Central Tele-Ophthalmology Centre has been inaugurated at Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital in Mastichak, Bihar, with the goal of screening 10 million patients over the next five years. The centre, operated by Yugrishi Shriram Sharma Acharya Charitable Trust, was officially opened on Vasant Panchami by Dr. Prem Kumar, Bihar’s Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

The facility will connect over 300 AI-enabled Primary Vision Centres, allowing remote diagnosis of eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Speaking at the event, Dr. Prem Kumar described the initiative as a lifeline for patients in rural areas, aligning with the Bihar government’s vision of universal healthcare access.

AI-driven early diagnosis

Dr. Ajit Poddar, Medical Director at Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital, explained that the AI-based diagnostic system will help in the early detection of vision-related diseases. Initially, 30 vision centres across Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh will be linked to the hub, with plans to expand to 300 centres by 2030.

Dr. Afroz Alam, Chief Medical Officer, detailed how high-end camera systems at remote vision centres will capture and transmit eye scans to specialists at the Central Tele-Ophthalmology Centre. The AI-powered system will then assist doctors in diagnosing conditions, enabling timely treatment and management of preventable blindness.

Executive Trustee Mrityunjay Tiwari noted that Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital has performed one million eye surgeries over the past 17 years, with plans to double this number within the next five years. The hospital’s Vision 2030 strategy aims to significantly expand eye care accessibility in underserved regions.