Guardians of Sight: Stepping into a Century of Indian
Optometry : Graduation Day address on 12th December 2025 for the Optometry
Good evening, everyone.
My heartfelt congratulations to
the heroes and heroines of today—the graduates of the Class of 2025. My
compliments also extend to the faculty members, administrators, and parents
whose dedication and support have been instrumental in shaping your success. This
is undoubtedly a moment of immense pride for each one of you. It is also a
deeply meaningful moment for me to be invited by the institute and entrusted
with the opportunity to deliver this address and to celebrate your Graduation
Day with you.
Dear Graduates, today is a day to
cherish—one that will remain etched in your memories for years to come. You
stand here in a well-deserved state of euphoria, celebrating your victory lap.
You have every reason to feel proud of your dedicated years of learning optometry,
mastering both the art and science of this noble profession. Many of you have
spent countless nights studying, travelled long distances to serve communities
in need, and persevered through moments of apprehension before, during, and
after numerous written, practical, and clinical examinations.
As you step into the next chapter
of your professional journey, remember that optometry is not merely acareer—it
is a profound responsibility. You now hold the expertise to transform lives, to
preserve vision, and to ensure that every individual you encounter has the
opportunity to see the world with clarity and dignity. The knowledge and skills
you have acquired here are not just academic achievements; they are tools that
will empower you to advocate for eye health, contribute to equitable care, and
uphold the highest ethical standards of this profession. The communities you
will serve—whether in clinics, hospitals, outreach camps, research centres, or
academic institutions—will look to you not only for clinical excellence but
also for compassion, integrity, and leadership.
Dear Graduates, you are stepping
into a noble and regulated profession. With the enactment of the National
Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, every
optometrist is now entrusted with a clear mandate—to serve every patient with
uncompromising professional responsibility, ethical conduct, and clinical
excellence. Today, optometry is recognized under the National Classification of
Occupations with the code 2267, affirming that optometrists are professional
healthcare providers and key contributors to India’s eye-health ecosystem.
Indian optometry stands on the
threshold of a historic milestone. In just two years, we will celebrate 100
years of this remarkable profession—a century of resilience, innovation, and
service. This is an opportune moment for all of us to recall the milestones and
honour the visionaries whose contributions shaped the profession into what it
is today.
Our journey began in 1927, when
A. K. Dutta—and a few years later, in 1932, A. K. Banerjee—established the
first optometry training initiatives in Kolkata. Though these early programs
were of shorter duration, they marked the genesis of a profession that would
grow far beyond its modest beginnings. In the 1950s, the Government of India
initiated the first formal two-year diploma at Aligarh, soon followed by
programs in Delhi, Hyderabad, Sitapur, and Chennai. These early courses were
designed to meet the growing burden of refractive errors and support
community-based screening services across the country.
The year 1985 heralded a
transformational shift with the establishment of India’s first modern four-year
Baccalaureate in Optometry at the Elite School of Optometry, a pioneering
initiative of the renowned Sankara Nethralaya. This set new academic benchmarks
and created the foundation for advanced optometric education in the country.Dr.
Aditya Goyal was the very first student of the program (Roll No 1!!), and I am
proud to share that I, too, am an alumnus of this prestigious academic lineage.
Soon after, in 1996, the same institution introduced India’s first postgraduate
program—initially known as the MPhil—in collaboration with BITS Pilani. It went
on to establish the country’s first doctoral program in 2002.
The second major academic
milestone came in 1998, when Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed University), Pune,
became the first university to start an optometry degree program—an initiative
made possible through the vision and commitment of senior optometrist Mr. Amod
Gogate. From 2004 onwards, our field witnessed unprecedented growth, with
institutions across the country adopting optometry programs. Today, India hosts
nearly 384 colleges offering optometric education—an extraordinary expansion
that reflects the rising demand and societal relevance of the profession.
Parallel to educational growth,
significant strides were made in standardising the profession. The Indian
Association of Optometrists—the oldest professional body—worked collaboratively
with the World Council of Optometry to define a developmental pathway for the
country. One major outcome of these efforts was the establishment of the
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), which played a pivotal
role in shaping modern optometric curricula.
India is fortunate to have a
self-regulated profession that recognised early the importance of
competency-based education. In 2008, at the Elite School of Optometry, a group
of eminent optometrists, in the presence of Prof. Jay M. Enoch, then Dean of
the University of California, Berkeley, planted the seed for a Common Minimum
Optometry Curriculum. ASCO translated that vision into reality by releasing the
first-ever Common Minimum Optometry Curriculum and the Indian Entry-Level
Competency Matrix in 2010 and 2012—landmark documents that laid the groundwork
for national standardisation. These were later endorsed on the Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare website in 2016, with the updated versions uploaded
again in 2025.
Today, optometry stands as one of
the most sought-after healthcare professions. Optometrists are recognised as
primary eye-care providers and vision-care experts, playing a vital role in
preventing avoidable blindness, early detection, and comprehensive visual
rehabilitation. The profession has witnessed an extraordinary
transformation—from its early focus on refractive services to a rich spectrum
of specialised domains, including Community Eye Care, Occupational Optometry,
Contact Lens Practice, Low Vision Services, Binocular Vision, Paediatric
Optometry, Geriatric Eye Care, Ocular Prosthetics, Advanced Ophthalmic
Diagnostics, Behavioural Optometry, Sports Vision, Myopia Management, and
Neuro-Optometry, among others. This breadth of specialisation is a testament to
the dynamic, progressive, and indispensable nature of our profession.
Dear Graduates, as you move
forward, you inherit not just a qualification—but a legacy. A legacy built over
decades by academicians, clinicians, researchers, community workers, industry
leaders, and thousands of dedicated optometrists who served with commitment and
integrity. You now become the custodians of this rich heritage, responsible for
shaping the next century of Indian optometry.
The nation looks to you with
great expectations. India’s eye-care needs are immense, and the demand for
competent, ethical, and compassionate optometrists has never been higher.
Whether you choose clinical practice, research, public health, academia,
corporate roles, or entrepreneurship, you will be stepping into a space where
your skills can truly transform lives. Vision influences learning,
productivity, safety, mobility, and quality of life—making your role central to
the nation’s health and development.
Remember, your degree alone does
not define your success—the attitude you carry, the compassion you display, the
ethics you uphold, and the curiosity you nurture will shape the professional
you become. Continue to learn, continue to question, and continue to grow. This
profession evolves every single day, and the most successful optometrists are
those who remain students for life.
You are entering a workforce that
values innovation, inter-professional collaboration, and technological
proficiency. That blend of precision and empathy is what makes our profession
so unique. That is the calling you are answering today.
The future you are walking into
is driven by tech that reads like science fiction:
- You are the AI Integrators: You won't
be replaced by AI; you'll be the ones using it to change lives. Imagine an
algorithm that scans a retina image and instantly alerts you to early
signs of disease, allowing you to intervene years earlier than we ever
could before. Some FDA-approved AI systems are already screening for
diabetic retinopathy, providing instant, reliable information that allows
for earlier intervention. You'll be the one interpreting that data with
compassion, making the critical decisions the machine can't.
- You are the Accessibility Disruptors: The
future of care is mobile and remote. You’ll manage patient health from a
distance using smart devices. Think of our aging population: they have
chronic conditions like glaucoma and AMD that require constant monitoring.
- Home-based Monitoring: Patients can
now use devices like the ForeseeHome monitor for AMD or the iCare Home
tonometer to check their eye pressure daily, with the data streaming
straight to your dashboard. You’ll use telehealth to reach people in
rural areas, breaking down barriers to care.
- You are the Innovators: This is a field
ripe for disruption. From augmented reality (AR) headsets, such as
Oculenz, that can physically move a missing visual field in low-vision
patients, allowing them to read or navigate more easily, to new gene
therapies targeting genetic blindness, you are entering a space where you
can create real, tangible impact.
The world is ready for
optometrists who can lead with knowledge, adapt with agility, and serve with
humility.
Above all, never underestimate
the privilege your profession offers—the privilege of protecting sight. The
privilege of ensuring a child sees the board clearly, enabling them to learn;
the privilege of helping an elderly person read once more; the privilege of
diagnosing a sight-threatening condition early; the privilege of restoring
dignity and independence through vision. These moments of impact will define
your career far more than any title or position.
As you embark on this new
chapter, I encourage each one of you to be fearless in your aspirations and
steadfast in your values. Let your actions reflect the highest standards of
care. Let your work speak of your commitment to excellence. And let your
compassion be the signature that sets you apart in every environment you serve.
The future of Indian optometry is
bright, and you—graduates of the Class of 2025—are the torchbearers who will
illuminate the path ahead. You represent the promise of a new century of
progress, innovation, and service. I urge you to dream boldly, act
purposefully, and uphold the responsibility that comes with being primary
eye-care professionals in one of the world’s fastest-evolving healthcare
ecosystems.
May your careers be filled with
discoveries, meaningful connections, and countless moments where you change
lives through vision. Take pride in the profession you represent, honour the
legacy you inherit, and contribute to building an optometry landscape that
future generations will look up to with admiration.
As you embark on your professional journey, I urge you to
remember the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita:
“You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not
entitled to the fruits of your actions.”
Let this remind you to focus on your efforts with sincerity and dedication,
while embracing whatever outcomes with grace.
The Tirukural teaches us that:
“In the world, no wealth is greater than wisdom,” and that “the
learned are humble like water that seeks the lowest places.”
Carry wisdom as your greatest asset and let humility guide you in every step
you take.
Once again, my heartfelt
congratulations to each one of you. I wish you all a rewarding and impactful
journey ahead.
Thank you very much.
Dr
R Krishna Kumar
President - Professional Council of
Ophthalmic Sciences
National Commission for Allied and
Healthcare Professionals (NCAHP)
Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare,Government of India
Visiting Faculty, Elite School of
Optometry & SJSIO, Chennai
Freelance Optometrist, Doorstep FREE
Geriatric Eyecare Services, Chennai
Former Head of the department ,
Optometry, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai
Former the Principal, Elite School of
Optometry, Chennai
Advisor, Optometry Services, Sankara
Nethralaya(Medical Research Foundation), Chennai
E - Mail : kkramani93@gmail.com
Mobile / WahtsApp : 98403
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