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
12791
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