Finding the best eye specialist in India can make a major difference when it comes to your vision health. India is home to some of the most respected ophthalmologists who are known for their experience in handling everything from common vision problems to complex eye surgeries. Whether you are searching for cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, retina care or pediatric eye services, the country offers a wide range of top rated eye hospitals and leading eye doctors with proven track records. This list of the top ten best eye specialists in India highlights those who stand out not just for their credentials but also for their advanced technology, global recognition and successful patient outcomes.
Each featured specialist is backed by years of clinical practice and a strong reputation in the field of ophthalmology. These doctors are located in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, making high quality eye care more accessible across the country. The selection also considers peer reviews, research contributions and the kind of facilities they are associated with. If you are planning corrective surgery, laser vision therapy or simply a comprehensive eye checkup, this guide helps you make an informed decision by focusing on quality, expertise and reliability. Keep reading to discover the finest eye doctors in India.
The Top Ten Best Eye Specialist In India
10. Dr N Venkatesh Prajna – Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai
Dr N Venkatesh Prajna is a global authority in cornea and refractive surgery at Aravind Eye Care System in Madurai. After graduating in medicine from Madurai Medical College and earning DO and DNB in ophthalmology, he joined the team at Aravind in 1993 and now serves as Chief of Cornea & Refractive Surgery and leads medical education throughout the Aravind network . He holds a fellowship from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London and is part of the International Council of Ophthalmology advisory board .
Dr Prajna is renowned for his pioneering work in fungal keratitis. He has led major clinical trials, such as the Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial II and the Cross‑Linking Assisted Infection Reduction study, which have shaped treatment protocols in India and abroad . His research has directly morphed into improved vision care, particularly in areas afflicted by infectious corneal disease.
At Aravind he combines cutting‑edge surgical practice offering therapeutic keratoplasty and flapless refractive procedures with educating future ophthalmologists across India and other countries. A respected teacher and researcher, he has published extensively, pushing the boundaries of fungal infection management and residency training. With this blend of innovation and patient‑first ethos, he is a top destination for anyone seeking expert cornea and vision correction services in India.
9. Dr Sundaram Natarajan – Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital, Mumbai
Dr Sundaram Natarajan is a leading vitreoretinal surgeon in India and heads the Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital in Mumbai as Chairman and Managing Director. A Padma Shri awardee in 2013, he pioneered free clinics and camps across Mumbai slums and in Kashmir, treating pellet‑gun and trauma patients.
Over four decades, Dr Natarajan has performed more than 60,000 vitreoretinal procedures, trained over 60 retina surgeons, and shown leadership through roles like President of the All India Ophthalmological Society and Charter Inductee of the Retina Hall of Fame . He also founded the Aditya Jyot Foundation for Twinkling Little Eyes, which has conducted mass diabetic retinopathy screening, reaching tens of thousands of underserved individuals.
This specialist manages complex retina conditions like diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and ocular trauma, using minimally invasive vitrectomy and gene‑based diagnostics. His humanitarian outreach and clinical leadership make advanced retina care accessible and affordable. Patients seeking world‑class retina treatment and compassionate care look to him as one of India’s top eye doctors.
8. Dr Jeevan S Titiyal – AIIMS, New Delhi
Dr Jeevan S Titiyal is a distinguished cornea surgeon at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, honoured with the Padma Shri award. His practice focuses on corneal transplantation, advanced cataract surgery using phacoemulsification, and laser vision correction techniques. He has led numerous high‑volume corneal programs, introducing innovations including DSEK/DMEK procedures and cross‑linking for keratoconus, delivering safer and more precise vision care.
As an educator, he has supervised hundreds of fellows and residents, both in India and from abroad, in the latest corneal surgery techniques. His research contributions span peer reviewed journals, aimed at enhancing graft survival and outcomes in complex cases.
Dr Titiyal’s commitment to expanding access to high quality vision services is seen in nationwide outreach programs that provide free corneal transplants and cataract surgeries to underserved populations. He also helps lead cornea services at several regional eye centres, ensuring consistent, quality‑driven clinical care.
7. Dr Ramanjit Sihota – Shroff Eye Centre, New Delhi
Dr Ramanjit Sihota is a senior glaucoma specialist at Shroff Eye Centre in New Delhi with over thirty years of clinical leadership. She has spearheaded public glaucoma screening programs throughout North India, increasing early detection in at risk populations. As head of glaucoma services, she handles cases involving primary open angle and angle closure glaucoma, combined cataract‑glaucoma procedures, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries.
Her academic impact includes clinical trials on glaucoma drainage devices and long‑term intraocular pressure management. She has authored multiple papers in respected ophthalmology journals and is often invited to lecture at international meetings.
At Shroff Eye Centre, Dr Sihota oversees comprehensive glaucoma care, integrating visual field analysis, optic nerve imaging, laser therapy, and surgical planning into personalized treatment regimens. Her empathetic communication style helps patients understand progressive conditions and long‑term management strategies.
6. Dr Ajay Paul – B. B. Eye Foundation, Kolkata
Dr Ajay Paul has been a distinguished pillar of eye care in Kolkata since the 1990s. After finishing his MBBS in 1985 and MS in 1990 at Silchar Medical College, he joined the B. B. Eye Foundation in 1993 and now serves as one of its Directors, shaping the vision of the institution. He began performing phacoemulsification in 1997 and has pioneered microphaco techniques in Eastern India. His expertise spans complex retina issues that follow cataract surgery, surgical and medical retina disorders, and advanced posterior segment complications .
Dr Paul earned recognition on the international stage with consecutive ESCRS Challenging Cases Video Awards in London (2006), Berlin (2007), and Stockholm (2008), and has been featured at AAO and ASCRS meetings . He has also secured accolades like the IIRSI Gold Medal in 2009 . Beyond performing surgeries, he teaches live surgical techniques globally, sharing techniques in coaxial and bimanual microphaco, glued scleral‑fixated intraocular lenses, and retina management.
Patients consistently praise his skill when handling complicated lens and retina cases, reinforcing his reputation as a top-tier eye specialist in East India. His vision of integrating surgical innovation, academic leadership, and compassionate clinical care makes him a standout choice for cataract and retina treatment.
5. Dr Prashant Garg – L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad
Dr Prashant Garg is an internationally recognized authority in cornea and anterior segment care, serving as Executive Chair of LVPEI’s Hyderabad Kallam Anji Reddy campus . Since joining LVPEI in 1996, he has led key initiatives in eye banking, microbial keratitis research, and antibiotic resistance studies. His leadership roles include Director of multiple LVPEI campuses, Network Head of Education, and the prestigious Dr Paul Dubord Chair of Cornea .
He has over 190 peer‑reviewed publications, secured funding from major agencies like Wellcome Trust and ICMR, and presented groundbreaking work at international forums . His clinical and laboratory research, particularly in infectious corneal ulcers and treatment protocols, has set new standards in India .
Dr Garg’s expertise spans cornea transplants, cataract surgery, glaucoma, endophthalmitis, macular disease, and ocular tumours all underpinned by his patient‑centric approach . His dedication to teaching ensures future generations of specialists are trained in the latest techniques. Patients and peers alike regard him as a world‑class cornea expert and visionary leader.
4. Dr George Varghese Puthuran – Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai
Dr George Varghese Puthuran is highly respected for his work in glaucoma surgery and public eye health at Aravind Eye Hospital, one of India’s most trusted eye care systems. He is credited with developing a low‑cost glaucoma drainage implant that has dramatically improved access to glaucoma treatment in underserved communities.
Because Aravind serves millions with high‑volume yet highly reliable care, his innovations have reached rural and urban patients alike. His implant design and surgical protocols are now adopted in several community outreach programs, enabling safe long‑term management of eye pressure at affordable rates.
Beyond innovation, Dr Puthuran has trained hundreds of ophthalmologists across India. He teaches minimally invasive glaucoma surgery methods, performs combined cataract‑glaucoma interventions, and contributes to peer‑reviewed publications on long‑term outcomes and implant safety. His approach continues the Aravind model: blending clinical excellence, surgical research, scalable techniques, and deep empathy. For patients seeking glaucoma management grounded in field‑tested results and affordable care, he stands among the country’s top experts.
3. Dr Santosh G Honavar – Centre for Sight, Hyderabad
Dr Santosh G Honavar brings over three and a half decades of experience in ocular oncology and oculoplastic surgery. Training at AIIMS in Delhi and the prestigious Wills Eye Hospital in the United States he is recognized as a pioneer in treatment of ocular tumours including retinoblastoma. His research contributions exceed 250 peer reviewed manuscripts and he has received one of India’s highest science awards for his impact on eye cancer. Honavar serves as Director of Medical Services at Centre for Sight in Hyderabad and heads the National Retinoblastoma Foundation.
He became the first Indian ophthalmologist to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2019 . Known for clinical skill as well as academic leadership he trains fellows from both India and abroad in ocular oncology. Under his leadership Centre for Sight has grown into a network of more than 80 advanced eye care centres across India . Patients with eye tumours, eyelid disorders or orbital disease seeking world class vision care consistently choose his expertise. His human approach and surgical precision make him one of the most sought after retina and oncology specialists anywhere.
2. Dr Lingam Gopal – Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai
Dr Lingam Gopal is a distinguished senior consultant in vitreoretinal surgery and neuro‑ophthalmology at Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai. Educated at PGIMER Chandigarh with advanced epidemiology training in London he leads one of the busiest vitreoretinal services in India at the Shri Bhagwan Mahavir department . With over 230 scientific papers and thirty published book chapters to his name he is widely recognized both nationally and internationally for excellence in managing complex retinal disorders across all age groups.
The neuro‑ophthalmology department he pioneered provides diagnosis and treatment for a range of optic nerve and orbital neurological conditions with state‑of‑the‑art imaging and electrophysiology tools . Patients from across South Asia including Bangladesh, the Middle East and Africa travel to Chennai for his care . Known for thoughtful communication and surgical expertise his approach balances technology and compassion. Cases involving retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy or neuro‑ophthalmic disorders benefit from his deep clinical experience. His role in teaching and training ensures that high standards of vitreoretinal care spread throughout India.
1. Dr Mahipal S Sachdev – Centre for Sight, Delhi
With over forty years of clinical work and surgical innovation Dr Mahipal S Sachdev is a pioneer of modern ophthalmic surgery in India. Holder of a Padma Shri award he introduced phacoemulsification, bladeless femtocataract surgery and LASIK laser refractive surgery to the country . As founder and current Chairman of the Centre for Sight hospital network he built a super speciality system delivering advanced cataract, cornea and refractive care across more than eighty centres in India .
He authored the first Indian textbook on phacoemulsification and has presented more than 150 papers at national and international conferences . His leadership in professional societies includes roles in the All India Ophthalmological Society and the Intraocular Implant & Refractive Society. Dr Sachdev’s approach combines surgical mastery with accessibility, offering life changing vision restoration to thousands every year. People seeking top level cataract surgery, laser vision correction or corneal care often travel to his Delhi centre because of his reputation for patient‑first compassion and consistently excellent outcomes.