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Army's High-Altitude Eye Camp 'Op Netra 1.0' Restores Vision for 950 in Ladakh

The Indian Army successfully conducted 214 procedures during a four-day Advanced Surgical Eye Camp, 'Op Netra 1.0', at 153 General Hospital in Leh from April 27-30. The camp screened 950 patients from seven districts of Ladakh, performing 197 complex cataract surgeries and 10 vitreo-retinal interventions. A key highlight was the launch of the indigenously developed 'Op Netra' app for digitizing patient records and enhancing surgical efficiency. The mission was supported by the Indian Air Force and reinforced the government's commitment to healthcare access in remote regions.

Key Points: Army Conducts 214 Eye Surgeries at High-Altitude Camp in Leh

  • Army conducts 214 procedures at high-altitude eye camp in Leh
  • 'Op Netra 1.0' screens 950 patients across 7 Ladakh districts
  • 197 cataract surgeries and 10 vitreo-retinal interventions performed
  • Indigenously developed 'Op Netra' app launched for patient management
2 min read

Army conducts 214 procedures at high-altitude eye camp in Leh

Indian Army's 'Op Netra 1.0' eye camp in Leh performs 214 procedures, including 197 cataract surgeries, restoring vision for 950 patients across Ladakh.

"This initiative contributes to the ongoing nationwide effort that has delivered more than 2,500 sight-restoring surgeries since November 2025 - Indian Army official statement"

New Delhi, April 30

In a landmark achievement in high-altitude medical care and humanitarian outreach, the Indian Army successfully conducted 214 procedures during a four-day Advanced Surgical Eye Camp, 'Op Netra 1.0', at 153 General Hospital in Leh from April 27-30.

The camp was inaugurated by GOC 14 Corps, Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, an official said on Thursday.

"A testament to seamless civil-military cooperation, the camp facilitated screening of a total 950 patients from across seven districts of Ladakh, including remote areas of Chushul, Hanle, Durbuk, Demchok, Fukche, Drass, Zanskar, Batalik, Chumathang, and Turtuk," a statement said.

The surgical team, led by Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra successfully performed 214 specialised procedures, including 197 complex cataract surgeries and 10 vitreo-retinal interventions, along with advanced procedures such as Glued Intraocular Lens implantation, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, vitrectomy, pterygium excision, and intraocular lens repositioning and restored vision of 15 complete visually impaired patients.

A key highlight of the operation was the launch of the indigenously developed 'Op Netra' app by 153 General Hospital, the statement added.

It helps in streamlining patient management by enabling end-to-end digitisation of records, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and automating surgical scheduling through QR code-based identification, thereby ensuring patient safety and operational efficiency in a high-volume, high-altitude setting.

"This initiative contributes to the ongoing nationwide effort that has delivered more than 2,500 sight-restoring surgeries since November 2025, following similar camps conducted in Udhampur, Dehradun, Jaipur, Bagdogra, and Gorakhpur," the statement said.

The mission was further enabled by the Indian Air Force through the airlift of advanced medical equipment ensuring that the standard of care matched the highest benchmarks.

The camp concluded with a closing ceremony attended by the Ladakh Lieutenant Governor, V.K. Saxena.

The successful conduct of 'Op Netra 1.0' under the leadership of Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, reinforces the Union government's unwavering commitment to the principle of "Nation First" and to ensuring that no citizen, regardless of geography, is deprived of essential healthcare services.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

J
James A
Impressive medical logistics. Having visited Leh I know the challenges. The Army-IAF coordination seems well executed. But hope these 950 patients weren't just from Army families - locals in remote villages need this most.
M
Meera T
This is tremendous! My grandmother lost her sight due to cataracts because no specialist was available in her village near Drass. Programs like 'Op Netra' give hope to thousands. Thank you Army and Air Force for your service. 🇮🇳
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Suresh O
Having served in 14 Corps, I know what it takes to set up such operations at 11,500 feet. The 'Op Netra' app is a game-changer for patient tracking. But why not make this a quarterly event rather than annual? Our jawans and locals need consistent care.
R
Rohit L
Excellent work by Indian Army! 15 blind patients given sight again - that's life-changing. The fact that equipment was airlifted by IAF shows true jointmanship. Jai Hind! 🫡🇮🇳
A
Ashwin V
Appreciate the effort but I wonder why this wasn't done earlier in civilian hospitals. The Army has resources but shouldn't this be the health department's job? Still, any help for villagers is welcome. Hope 'Nation First' means better primary health centers in Ladakh too.

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