Bengaluru, Sep 01: Orbis International President & CEO Kathleen Sherwin virtually inaugurated the new Digital Training Hub at Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru, in the presence of Dr B. L. Sujatha Rathod, Director of Medical Education, Govt. of Karnataka, Padma Shri Dr R. V. Ramani, Founder of Sankara Eye Foundation, Mr. Vijay Bharadwaj, former Test cricketer, coach and cricket commentator, and other distinguished dignitaries, strengthening the organisations’ partnership to expand access to high-quality ophthalmic training and enhance 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 brings together in-person simulation and clinical training with technology-enabled learning, global expertise and ongoing virtual mentorship. The model combines simulation-based learning, virtual reality-enabled training and hands-on clinical experience with Cybersight, Orbis’s telemedicine and e-learning platform, and Orbis’s global network of Volunteer Faculty.
Through this integrated approach, eye care professionals can participate in structured, hands-on training while continuing to access online courses, clinical resources, case discussions, remote surgical mentorship and expert guidance beyond the physical training environment. This enables learning and mentorship to continue over time, creating a scalable model for strengthening skills through strong local institutions supported by technology and global expertise.
The DTH will support ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists-in-training, ophthalmic nurses and other eye health professionals through hospital-based training, observerships, fellowships and remote surgical mentorship. It is expected to support approximately 200 eye health professionals annually across Karnataka and South India, with a focus on training in medical retina for ophthalmologists.
Speaking during the inauguration, Kathleen 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.”
India continues to face a substantial need for accessible and specialised eye care, particularly for children and communities with limited access to services. Around 270,000 children in India are living with blindness, with more than half of childhood blindness considered avoidable. India is also home to more than 20 percent of the world’s blind population, highlighting the importance of strengthening eye care capacity and expanding access to skilled professionals.
Orbis has been working in India since 1988, with its country office based in Gurugram. In 2025, Orbis-supported programmes in India recorded over 296,000 community eye screenings and examinations and over 4,500 trainings completed by eye health professionals, reflecting the organisation’s continued focus on strengthening eye care delivery and the health workforce.
Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director, Orbis India, said,
“This partnership allows us to leverage Sankara’s clinical expertise and create a multiplier effect through training, technology and mentorship. The goal is to train more professionals, strengthen institutions and ultimately bring better eye care closer to the communities that need it most.”
Dr B. L. Sujatha Rathod, Director, Directorate of Medical Education, Karnataka, said,
“As medical practice continues to evolve, healthcare professionals need opportunities to continually develop and refine their skills. Simulation-based learning provides a valuable environment for practitioners to practise procedures and build confidence before applying their skills in real-world settings. The Digital Training Hub at Sankara Eye Hospital will add an important resource for eye care professionals in Karnataka, supporting skill development through structured, technology-enabled training.”
Padma Shri Dr R. V. Ramani, Founder of Sankara Eye Foundation, said,
“Sankara has always believed that strengthening eye care requires strong institutions that can continuously develop and support their people. This partnership with Orbis allows us to combine our clinical experience and established training ecosystem with access to global expertise, digital learning and ongoing mentorship. 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.”
Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru, is a 225-bed super-specialty eye hospital serving patients from Bengaluru and across Karnataka. The hospital also houses the Sankara Vision Academy, which offers DNB, fellowship and optometry programmes, providing an established platform for the training and development of eye care professionals.
The DTH builds on this foundation by combining Sankara’s on-site expertise with simulation, digital learning and ongoing access to mentorship. Equipped with a wet lab, simulation models and virtual reality-enabled training tools, the hub will allow participants to practise and refine their skills in a structured environment while remaining connected to Orbis’s global learning and mentorship ecosystem.
By bringing together the strengths of a local institution with technology, simulation and ongoing access to specialist expertise, the Sankara Digital Training Hub represents a scalable approach to expanding high-quality ophthalmic training. The partnership aims to strengthen the skills of eye care professionals and build sustainable capacity across Karnataka and South India.