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{{Short description|Eye hospital in Bengaluru, India}}
{{Infobox hospital
| name = Narayana Nethralaya
| image = Narayana Netharlaya Profile.jpg
| image_size = 250
| location = Multiple campuses in [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India:
* '''Rajajinagar''' (main): #121/C, Chord Road, 1st ‘R’ Block, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
* '''Bommasandra''': #258/A, Hosur Road, Bommasandra, Bengaluru 560099
* '''Bannerghatta Road''': No.63, Next to Royal Meenakshi Mall, Hulimavu, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru 560076
* '''Indiranagar''': #1/1, 1st Main, Binnamangala, Defence Colony, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar, Bengaluru 560038
* '''Whitefield''' (opened February 2025): Plot 3-C, Phase I, Doddenakkundi Industrial Area, Mahadevapura P.O., Next to Seetharamapalya Metro Station, Bengaluru 560048
| specialty = [[Ophthalmology]]
| founded = 1982 (by K. Bhujang Shetty)
| website = https://www.narayananethralaya.org
}}

'''Narayana Nethralaya''' is a [[Hospital#Specialized|super-specialty]] eye care hospital based in [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. The institution operates several campuses across the city and provides ophthalmic services, along with medical research and community-based eye care programs.

== History ==
The hospital was founded in 1982 by ophthalmologist Dr. K. Bhujang Shetty as a small clinic in Srirampuram. A larger facility was established in [[Rajajinagar]] in 1993.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/doctor-who-took-eyecare-beyond-hospital-walls/articleshow/100389374.cms |title=Doctor who took eyecare beyond hospital walls |work=The Times of India |date=22 May 2023}}</ref> Additional campuses were later opened in [[Bommasandra]], [[Indiranagar, Bengaluru|Indiranagar]], [[Bannerghatta Road]], and [[Whitefield, Bengaluru|Whitefield]].<ref name="bangaloremirror">{{cite news |date=2025-03-01 |title=Achievers of Health Sector: Narayana Nethralaya: A Trusted Name in Eye Care |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/achievers-of-health-sector-narayana-nethralaya-a-trusted-name-in-eye-care/articleshow/118654695.cms |work=Bangalore Mirror}}</ref>

In 2022, Narayana Nethralaya's free eye hospital was established in [[Tumkur]] inaugurated by the [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/narayana-nethralayas-cash-counter-free-eye-hospital-at-tumakuru-to-be-launched-on-december-7/article66227081.ece |title=Narayana Nethralaya's cash-counter-free eye hospital at Tumakuru to be launched on December 7 |work=The Hindu |date=7 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/cm-inaugurates-free-eye-hospital-in-tumakuru/article66235048.ece |title=CM inaugurates free eye hospital in Tumakuru |work=The Hindu |date=8 December 2022}}</ref>

Narayana Nethralaya has been actively involved in community outreach and eye donation programmes since its early years. The '''Dr. Rajkumar Eye Bank''', established in 1994 at the hospital's Rajajinagar campus and inaugurated by actor [[Dr. Rajkumar]], has facilitated thousands of corneal transplants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eye Bank |url=https://nneyefoundation.org/eye-bank/ |website=Narayana Nethralaya Eye Foundation}}</ref>

The eye bank gained further prominence after eye donations by members of Dr. Rajkumar's family. [[Parvathamma Rajkumar]] donated her eyes to the bank in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Parvathamma Rajkumar donates her eyes to Narayana Nethralaya after death |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/parvathamma-rajkumar-donates-her-eyes-to-narayana-nethralaya-after-death/articleshow/58926794.cms |work=The Times of India |date=31 May 2017}}</ref> Following the death of actor [[Puneeth Rajkumar]] in October 2021 and his eye donation, which restored sight to four people, there was a significant surge in pledges. Narayana Nethralaya, which operates the eye bank, recorded nearly 1.28 lakh new eye pledges in the two years after his donation, along with the collection of 3,989 eyes for transplantation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Puneeth’s eye donation inspired nearly 1.28 lakh to pledge eyes in last two years; 3,989 eyes collected |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/puneeths-eye-donation-inspired-nearly-128-lakh-to-pledge-eyes-in-last-two-years-3989-eyes-collected/article67238446.ece |work=The Hindu |date=27 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=One lakh pledge eyes following Puneeth Rajkumar’s death |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/one-lakh-pledge-eyes-following-puneeth-rajkumars-death/article65853844.ece |work=The Hindu |date=5 September 2022}}</ref>

== Services and facilities ==
Narayana Nethralaya provides specialised treatment in areas such as [[cataract]], [[refractive surgery]], [[retina]], [[glaucoma]], [[cornea]], [[pediatric ophthalmology]], and [[oculoplasty]]. The hospital has received [[NABH]] accreditation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/nabh-accreditation-for-narayana-nethralaya/article2973687.ece |title=NABH accreditation for Narayana Nethralaya |work=The Hindu |date=11 February 2011}}</ref>

Narayana Nethralaya provides emergency ophthalmic care, including treatment of firecracker related eye injuries that occur during festivals such as Diwali. The hospital has reported treating dozens of such cases annually in [[Bengaluru]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Over 90 cracker-related eye injuries reported across Bengaluru |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/over-90-cracker-related-eye-injuries-reportedacross-bengaluru-3771526 |work=Deccan Herald |date=21 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=But with 150 cases, no respite from eye injuries |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/civic/-but-with-150-cases-no-respite-from-eye-injuries/articleshow/124770261.cms |work=Bangalore Mirror |date=24 October 2025}}</ref>

The hospital performs corneal transplantations and operates the Dr. Rajkumar Eye Bank to address corneal blindness. India faces a large gap between the demand and supply of donor corneas, with millions waiting for transplants nationwide.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eye donation: Huge gap between demand and supply in India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/eye-donation-huge-gap-between-demand-and-supply-in-india/article65858235.ece |work=The Hindu |date=6 September 2022}}</ref>

== Programs and research ==
The hospital runs KIDROP, a free tele ROP screening program launched in 2008 in partnership with the [[Government of Karnataka]] to prevent blindness in premature infants in rural areas. The program has expanded nationwide.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/ppp-with-karnataka-government-drives-kidrops-nationwide-expansion-in-preventing-infant-blindness/article70291839.ece |title=PPP with Karnataka government drives KIDROP's nationwide expansion in preventing infant blindness |work=The Hindu |date=12 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://journals.lww.com/ijo/fulltext/2020/68020/taking_subspecialty_pediatric_eye_care_to_the.8.aspx |title=Taking subspecialty pediatric eye care to the community – The Narayana Nethralaya model |journal=Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |volume=68 |issue=Supplement 2 |pages=S41–S46 |date=February 2020 |doi=10.4103/ijo.IJO_201_20 |doi-broken-date=18 December 2025 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Research activities are conducted through the GROW Research Laboratory. The hospital has developed [[gene therapies]] for [[ocular]] diseases and received approval for human clinical trials.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/bengaluru-based-eye-hospital-to-soon-start-human-clinical-trials-of-indigenous-gene-therapy-for-ocular-diseases/article67123498.ece |title=Bengaluru-based eye hospital to soon start human clinical trials of indigenous gene therapy for ocular diseases |work=The Hindu |date=18 August 2023}}</ref> In 2025, it announced plans to reduce gene therapy costs by 80%.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2025/Feb/03/narayana-nethralaya-to-cut-gene-therapy-costs-for-eye-diseases-by-80 |title=Narayana Nethralaya to cut gene therapy costs for eye diseases by 80% |work=The New Indian Express |date=3 February 2025}}</ref>

Other initiatives include collaboration on an augmented reality device for low vision patients<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/eye-hospital-collaborates-with-private-firm-to-develop-augmented-reality-powered-device-for-those-with-low-vision/article68982244.ece |title=Eye hospital collaborates with private firm to develop augmented reality-powered device for those with low vision |work=The Hindu |date=18 October 2024}}</ref> and the operation of eye banks such as the Dr. Rajkumar Eye Bank<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-29 |title=Give a missed call to pledge sight at Dr. Rajkumar eye bank |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/give-a-missed-call-to-pledge-sight-at-dr-rajkumar-eye-bank/article38067133.ece |access-date=2025-12-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|Karnataka}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narayana Nethralaya}}

[[Category:Eye hospitals in India]]
[[Category:Hospitals established in 1982]]
[[Category:Hospitals in Bengaluru]]

Narayana Nethralaya - Revision history

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