Over 100 elderly regain sight through DMC's cataract initiative in Punjab border towns

Ludhiana, July 28, 2026: For many elderly residents of Punjab's border villages, poor vision had become an accepted part of life. Unable to afford treatment or find someone to accompany them to a hospital, many had resigned themselves to blindness. Over the past three months, however, more than 100 elderly patients have regained their sight after undergoing free cataract surgeries at Dayanand Medical College & Hospital (DMC&H), Ludhiana, under Project Roshani.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Department of Ophthalmology, DMC&H and Seva Canada, identified patients during eye screening camps held in Guru Har Sahai and Jalalabad. Patients with cataract were transported free of cost to DMC&H for surgery and later followed up in their hometowns, ensuring complete postoperative care without repeated travel.
The happiness of the patients was evident when their eye patches were removed. One elderly woman broke down in tears, saying she could see colours clearly after many years. Several beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude to DMC&H, sharing that they had lived with poor vision for years because they had no one to bring them to a tertiary care hospital for treatment.
The Guru Har Sahai camp was organised with the support of Anil Galhotra of PLC Rice Mills, while the Jalalabad camp was organised by Kapil Dev Gumber in collaboration with the Morning Club, Jalalabad.
The programme was led by Dr Priyanka Arora, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Project Roshani Lead. Cataract surgeries were performed by Dr Priyanka Arora and Dr Ritesh Verma.
Bipin Gupta, Secretary, DMC&H Managing Society, said the initiative demonstrated how collaboration between DMC, Seva Canada and local community leaders could transform lives by eliminating avoidable blindness.
Appreciating the initiative, Dr G. S. Wander, Principal, DMC&H, said, "DMC&H remains committed to taking quality healthcare beyond the hospital and reaching those who need it the most."
Dr Priyanka Arora said that cataract remains one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness among the elderly, especially in rural and border areas. "Through Project Roshani, we are ensuring that patients not only receive surgery but also complete follow-up care. Restoring sight means restoring independence and dignity."
The Department of Ophthalmology thanked Anil Galhotra, Kapil Dev Gumber, and the Morning Club, Jalalabad, for their invaluable support in making the camps a success.