Operation Drishti eye camp at Tangdhar, in a sensitive sector along the Line of Control (LoC), became the first mega eye surgical camp ever held at the LoC in an underground operation theatre. Surgeons worked there on September 24 and 25 and completed 220 sight-restoring surgeries in two days.

The Kashmir leg of the initiative closed on Wednesday at 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, with the 11th mega eye surgical camp. Across Tangdhar and Srinagar, 364 eye surgeries were performed.

Operation Drishti eye camp at Tangdhar, a sensitive sector

Tangdhar lies in the Karnah area of Kupwara district, facing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir across the LoC. Its only road link to the rest of the Valley runs over the Sadhna Pass, which heavy snow cuts off for long stretches in winter.

The team came from the Indian Army's Army Hospital (Research and Referral), New Delhi, and was led by Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra. Its work covered cataract, glaucoma, pterygium and retinal procedures. The camps were run by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), which in July also opened India's first Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital, Lucknow.

Gen Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff, visited the camp on September 25 during his review of Chinar Corps operational preparedness, when he also urged troops to follow the VIJAY principles.

144 operations at 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar

The second phase moved to Srinagar on Monday and Tuesday, where 144 patients underwent eye surgery. Several who arrived with badly impaired vision showed clear improvement. Some could see clearly as early as the day after their operation.

Specialised procedures beyond cataract

Besides cataract surgery, the Srinagar camp offered glued IOL implantation, glaucoma surgery, pterygium excision and retinal treatment for diabetic retinopathy. A glued IOL fixes an artificial lens in an eye that lacks the natural support to hold one. Pterygium is a fleshy growth that spreads from the white of the eye onto the cornea. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina caused by diabetes.

18 screening camps across the Kashmir Valley

Patients were found weeks in advance. Teams from 92 Base Hospital and 328 Field Hospital held 18 screening camps in remote and forward areas, including Tangdhar, Dawar, Machil, Uri, Baramulla, Bandipora, Khanabal and Kangan.

Nearly 6,000 people were screened. Around 500 needed surgery.

Kashmir leg closes in the presence of LG Manoj Sinha

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha attended the closing ceremony in Srinagar. He praised the eye team for its dedication, professional expertise and compassionate service to the people of Kashmir.

Lt Gen Balbir Singh, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, and other senior officers were present.

The Operation Drishti eye camp series brought sub-speciality eye care to people who would otherwise have had to travel long distances for it. It has now reached the North, West, East and Central regions of the country. The next phase will be held in Odisha, the Ministry of Defence said.