Procedure marks milestone for Bhubaneswar hospital; patient’s vision shows improvement

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 13, 2026

Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Bhubaneswar has successfully performed its first corneal transplant, restoring hope of improved vision to a 37-year-old man whose right eye had suffered severe damage due to an infection nearly three years ago.

The surgery was performed by a team of ophthalmologists led by Dr. Akshit Gupta. The procedure lasted around one and a half hours and was carried out under local anaesthesia. The patient has shown marked improvement in vision following the operation, doctors said.

Describing the surgery as a significant milestone for the institution, Dr. Gupta said the patient had nearly lost vision in his right eye following the infection. KIMS received government approval to perform corneal transplants last week, placing it among the handful of hospitals in Odisha equipped with the necessary expertise and facilities to undertake the procedure.

Dr. Subhangi Sahu said the patient’s visual clarity was expected to improve further over the next two to three weeks, with additional recovery anticipated over the coming months.

The patient expressed profound gratitude to the cornea donor, acknowledging the contribution that had helped restore his vision. The case also underscored the importance of eye donation in enabling people with damaged or diseased corneas to regain sight.

The surgical team comprised Dr. Gupta, Dr. Matuli Das and Dr. Sahu, along with Lochana Tripathy and Shyamali Routray.

Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT, KISS and KIMS, congratulated the doctors on successfully performing the institution’s first corneal transplant and wished the patient a healthy life ahead.

According to doctors, around 10 lakh people in India require corneal transplants, while the availability of donated corneas remains far below the demand. Corneal transplantation can help restore sight in patients whose corneas have been damaged by disease or injury, making eye donation a vital link between those who need treatment and those who can benefit from it.

The successful procedure at KIMS marks a step forward in the availability of specialised eye care in Odisha and highlights the continuing need to raise awareness about corneal donation.