Orbis International and Sankara Eye Hospital have expanded eye care training capacity in South India with the inauguration of a new Digital Training Hub (DTH) in Bengaluru.
The partnership aims to expand access to high-quality ophthalmic training and strengthen the competencies and skills of the eye care workforce across Karnataka and South India.
The new hub is designed to strengthen training capacity by creating a connected learning environment that extends beyond the physical facility. It combines in-person simulation and clinical training with technology-enabled learning, global expertise and ongoing virtual mentorship.
The training model brings together simulation-based learning, virtual reality-enabled training and hands-on clinical experience with Cybersight, Orbis’s telemedicine and e-learning platform, and its global network of Volunteer Faculty.
The hub will support ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists-in-training, ophthalmic nurses and other eye health professionals through hospital-based training, observerships, fellowships and remote surgical mentorship.
The new facility is expected to support approximately 200 eye health professionals annually across Karnataka and South India, with a focus on medical retina training for ophthalmologists.
Kathleen Sherwin, President & CEO, Orbis International, virtually inaugurated the new hub at Sankara Eye Hospital in the presence of Dr B. L. Sujatha Rathod, Director of Medical Education (DME), Government of Karnataka, Padma Shri Dr R. V. Ramani, Founder of Sankara Eye Foundation, Vijay Bharadwaj, former Test cricketer, coach and cricket commentator, and other distinguished dignitaries.
Speaking at the inauguration,Sherwin said, “The most powerful investment we can make in eye care is an investment in people. This Digital Training Hub brings together technology, simulation and global mentorship with Sankara’s clinical expertise, making specialist training more accessible and helping ensure that eye care professionals can take new skills back to the communities they serve.”
Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director, Orbis India, said, “The goal is to train more professionals, strengthen institutions and ultimately bring better eye care closer to the communities that need it most.”
Dr Rathodnoted that simulation-based learning provides a valuable environment for practitioners to practise procedures and build confidence before applying their skills in real-world settings.
Dr Ramani said the Digital Training Hub will help create a more connected and sustained learning environment, enabling eye care professionals to continue building their skills while remaining closely linked to expert guidance and new knowledge.
An estimated 270,000 children in India are living with blindness, with more than half of childhood blindness considered avoidable.
The organisations highlighted that India is home to more than 20 per cent of the world’s blind population, stressing the importance of strengthening eye care capacity and expanding access to skilled professionals.
