Image
The Department of Ophthalmology at Apollo Hospitals, Gurugram, assesses and treats conditions affecting the eyes and vision. These include cataract, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal and corneal disorders, squint and other eye conditions in children, eyelid and tear duct problems, and eye injuries.
Care may range from a routine eye examination or prescription for glasses to laser treatment, injections or microsurgery. Some eye conditions develop without early symptoms, while others can threaten vision quickly. The timing of assessment and treatment therefore depends on the diagnosis, severity, rate of change and the health of the rest of the eye.
Eye disease can also be linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders and neurological conditions. Ophthalmologists may coordinate care with endocrinologists, physicians, rheumatologists, neurologists, pediatricians and other specialists when needed.
Our Ophthalmology Team
The team may include ophthalmologists with experience in cataract, glaucoma, retina, cornea, pediatric ophthalmology, squint, neuro-ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery. They may be supported by optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses, imaging technicians and relevant medical specialists. Our specialists include:
- Cataract and Lens Conditions
- Glaucoma
- Retinal and Macular Conditions
- Corneal and Ocular Surface Conditions
- Eyelid, Tear Duct and Orbital Conditions
- Children's Eye Conditions
- Neuro-ophthalmic and Inflammatory Conditions
- Eye Injuries and Emergencies
Cataract and Lens Conditions
- Cataract: Clouding of the natural lens can cause blurred or dim vision, glare, halos, faded colors and difficulty seeing at night. Surgery is considered when the cataract affects daily activities or when there is another clinical reason to remove it. A cataract does not need to become mature before treatment.
- Cataract from other causes: Cataract may also be associated with diabetes, steroid use, eye injury, inflammation, previous eye surgery or conditions present from birth. Cataract in a baby or young child needs prompt specialist assessment because it can interfere with visual development.
- Posterior capsular opacification: The membrane behind an artificial lens can become cloudy months or years after cataract surgery. This is not a cataract returning and can often be treated with an outpatient laser procedure.
Glaucoma
- Open-angle glaucoma: Gradual optic-nerve damage often develops without pain or early symptoms. Peripheral vision may be affected before central vision. Treatment lowers eye pressure to reduce the risk of further damage, but vision already lost cannot usually be restored.
- Angle-closure glaucoma: A sudden rise in eye pressure can cause severe eye pain, redness, blurred vision, halos, headache, nausea or vomiting. Acute angle closure requires emergency assessment and treatment.
- Secondary and childhood glaucoma: Eye pressure can rise because of inflammation, injury, medicines such as steroids, other eye disease or a condition present in childhood. The signs, tests and treatment vary with the cause.
Retinal and Macular Conditions
- Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetes can damage retinal blood vessels before vision changes. The timing of retinal examinations depends on the type of diabetes, pregnancy, previous findings and current guidance. Good control of blood glucose, blood pressure and lipids also matters.
- Diabetic macular edema: Fluid in the central retina can blur or distort central vision. Treatment may include injections, laser or other approaches according to the retinal findings.
- Age-related macular degeneration: AMD affects central vision used for reading and recognizing faces. New distortion, a dark central patch or a rapid change in vision needs prompt assessment because some forms require timely treatment.
- Retinal detachment: New flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, or a shadow or curtain across the vision may indicate a retinal tear or detachment and needs urgent assessment.
- Retinal vascular occlusion: A blocked retinal artery or vein can cause sudden painless loss or blurring of vision. Retinal artery occlusion is an emergency and may require urgent assessment for stroke and cardiovascular risk.
- Retinopathy of prematurity: ROP can affect the developing retinal blood vessels of some premature or low-birth-weight babies. Screening must follow a defined schedule based on birth history and neonatal risk.
- Macular hole and epiretinal membrane: Changes at the center of the retina may cause blurred or distorted vision. Observation or surgery may be considered according to symptoms and retinal findings.
Corneal and Ocular Surface Conditions
- Dry eye disease: Poor tear quantity or quality may cause grittiness, burning, watering and fluctuating vision. Screen use, air conditioning, contact lenses, eyelid-gland dysfunction and some medicines can contribute.
- Corneal infection and ulcer: Pain, redness, light sensitivity and blurred vision may signal an infection. A painful red eye in a contact-lens wearer needs same-day assessment because some infections can progress quickly.
- Keratoconus: Progressive thinning and change in corneal shape can cause increasing astigmatism and distorted vision. Corneal cross-linking may be recommended to slow or stop progression in suitable patients.
- Pterygium: A growth from the white of the eye onto the cornea may cause irritation, redness or visual disturbance. Treatment depends on symptoms, growth and its effect on the cornea.
- Corneal scars and dystrophies: Infection, injury or inherited conditions can reduce corneal clarity. Treatment may range from glasses or contact lenses to surgery or transplantation.
Eyelid, Tear Duct and Orbital Conditions
- Ptosis: A drooping upper eyelid may be present from birth or develop later. In children, significant ptosis needs timely assessment because it can affect visual development.
- Watering eyes and blocked tear ducts: Excess watering can result from poor drainage, eyelid position, irritation or dry eye. Treatment is based on the cause and may include medicines or a procedure.
- Stye, chalazion and blepharitis: Inflammation of the eyelid glands or margins can cause soreness, lumps, crusting and irritation. Warm compresses, eyelid hygiene or medicine may be advised.
- Thyroid eye disease: Inflammation around the eyes can cause prominence, lid changes, discomfort or double vision. Rarely, it can threaten the optic nerve and requires urgent specialist care.
- Eyelid and orbital growths: Lumps involving the eyelid or orbit may need imaging, biopsy, removal or reconstruction depending on their appearance and behavior.
Children's Eye Conditions
- Squint: Misalignment of the eyes may be constant or intermittent. Persistent squint needs assessment because it can be associated with reduced vision in one eye and problems with binocular vision.
- Amblyopia: The brain may not develop normal vision in one eye when there is squint, unequal spectacle power or an obstruction such as cataract. Treatment works best during childhood and may include glasses, patching, drops or treatment of the underlying cause.
- Refractive errors: Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism can affect learning and daily activities. Children may squint, sit close to screens, report headaches or have difficulty seeing the board.
- Myopia progression: Short-sightedness may increase through childhood. More time outdoors may reduce the chance of developing myopia, while selected spectacle, contact-lens or atropine approaches can slow progression in some children.
Neuro-ophthalmic and Inflammatory Conditions
- Optic neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve may cause reduced vision, altered color vision and pain with eye movement. Assessment may include imaging and investigation for an associated neurological or inflammatory condition.
- Optic disc swelling: Swelling of the optic nerve head can have several causes. Papilledema caused by raised pressure around the brain requires urgent neurological assessment.
- Double vision and nerve palsies: Double vision may arise from eye-muscle, nerve, thyroid, vascular or neurological conditions. Sudden or persistent double vision should be assessed promptly.
- Uveitis: Inflammation inside the eye may cause pain, redness, light sensitivity, floaters or blurred vision. Investigation and treatment depend on the part of the eye involved and the suspected cause.
Eye Injuries and Emergencies
- Chemical injury: Begin rinsing immediately with plenty of clean running water. Hold the eyelids open, remove contact lenses if they come out easily and continue irrigation while arranging emergency care. Do not delay rinsing to identify the chemical.
- Foreign body and corneal abrasion: Dust, metal or grit can cause pain, watering and light sensitivity. Do not rub the eye or try to remove an embedded object.
- Blunt or penetrating injury: A serious injury can follow a blow, sharp object, firework or high-speed fragment. Do not press the eye or remove an embedded object. Place a protective shield without pressure and seek emergency care.
- Sudden loss of vision: A rapid change or loss of vision in one or both eyes can have retinal, vascular, optic-nerve, neurological or pressure-related causes and needs urgent assessment.
- Spectacles and contact lenses
- Cataract surgery
- Glaucoma treatment
- Intravitreal injections
- Retinal laser treatment
- Vitreoretinal surgery
- Corneal transplantation
- Squint treatment and surgery
- Amblyopia treatment
- Oculoplastic and lacrimal procedures
- Dry-eye management
- Refractive surgery assessment
- Emergency eye care
- Low-vision rehabilitation
Spectacles and contact lenses
Refractive errors may be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Specialty contact lenses may improve vision in selected patients with keratoconus or an irregular cornea.
Cataract surgery
The cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. Phacoemulsification is commonly performed through a small incision, while another technique may be safer for some eyes. The anesthesia, recovery plan and expected visual result are discussed individually.
Glaucoma treatment
Eye drops, selective laser trabeculoplasty, laser iridotomy or surgery may be used to lower eye pressure. Treatment is selected according to glaucoma type, severity, target pressure, previous response and the patient's circumstances.
Intravitreal injections
Medicine may be injected into the eye for conditions such as wet macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema or retinal-vein occlusion. The medicine and schedule are based on the diagnosis and response. New severe pain, worsening redness or reduced vision after an injection requires urgent review.
Retinal laser treatment
Laser may be used for selected retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema or abnormal blood vessels. Its role depends on the location and type of retinal disease.
Vitreoretinal surgery
Surgery inside the eye may be required for retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, vitreous bleeding or advanced diabetic eye disease. Gas or oil may be used in selected operations, with specific positioning and travel restrictions afterward.
Corneal transplantation
Diseased or scarred corneal tissue may be replaced with a full-thickness graft or a selected corneal layer. The technique depends on which part of the cornea is affected.
Squint treatment and surgery
Glasses, amblyopia treatment, prisms or surgery may be used according to the cause and age of the patient. Surgery adjusts the eye muscles to improve alignment but may not remove the need for glasses or further treatment.
Amblyopia treatment
Glasses and treatment of the underlying cause are combined with patching or atropine in selected children. The plan is adjusted according to age, vision and response.
Oculoplastic and lacrimal procedures
Treatment may include correction of ptosis or eyelid malposition, tear-duct surgery, removal of eyelid lesions and selected orbital procedures.
Dry-eye management
Treatment may include lubricants, eyelid care, management of meibomian-gland dysfunction, anti-inflammatory medicine and changes to screen or environmental habits.
Refractive surgery assessment
Corneal shape, thickness, prescription stability, age and eye health are reviewed before laser or lens-based vision-correction surgery. Not everyone is suitable, and glasses may still be needed afterward or with aging.
Emergency eye care
Chemical injuries, serious trauma, acute angle closure, retinal detachment and sudden vision loss require rapid assessment and treatment.
Low-vision rehabilitation
Magnification, lighting, contrast enhancement, electronic aids and training may support people whose vision cannot be fully improved medically or surgically.
- Optical coherence tomography
- Cataract imaging and biometry
- Small-incision cataract surgery
- Wide-field retinal imaging
- Automated perimetry
- Corneal topography and tomography
- Ophthalmic lasers
- Ophthalmic operating facilities
Optical coherence tomography
High-resolution retinal and optic-nerve imaging can detect structural change and track selected diseases over time.
Cataract imaging and biometry
Optical measurements support intraocular-lens calculations and surgical planning. Toric-lens planning may also use corneal mapping when appropriate.
Small-incision cataract surgery
Phacoemulsification and other small-incision techniques can support cataract removal with a short recovery for many patients. The approach is chosen for the individual eye.
Wide-field retinal imaging
Imaging can document a broad area of the retina and may support assessment of diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disease and peripheral retinal changes.
Automated perimetry
Standardized visual-field testing helps identify and monitor functional loss in glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmic disease.
Corneal topography and tomography
Detailed corneal mapping supports keratoconus detection, specialty contact-lens planning and refractive-surgery assessment.
Ophthalmic lasers
Different laser systems may be used for posterior capsular opacification, glaucoma and selected retinal conditions.
Ophthalmic operating facilities
Surgical microscopes, microsurgical instruments and monitoring support selected cataract, retinal, corneal, glaucoma and oculoplastic procedures.
1
How often should adults have an eye examination?
There is no single interval for everyone. The schedule depends on age, symptoms, spectacle needs, diabetes, family history, previous findings and other risk factors. People with eye disease may need much more frequent review. Ask an eye-care professional what interval is appropriate for you.
2
Do I need to wait until a cataract is mature before surgery?
No. Surgery is usually considered when cataract affects daily activities, prevents assessment or treatment of another eye condition, or creates another clinical problem. The decision is based on symptoms, examination and the likely benefits and risks.
3
Is cataract surgery painful, and how long does recovery take?
Local or topical anesthesia is commonly used, and most people experience little pain during uncomplicated surgery. Procedure time and recovery vary. Vision may improve quickly, but healing continues for several weeks. Follow the surgeon's advice on drops, activity, driving and warning symptoms.
4
Which lens should I choose for cataract surgery?
The choice depends on eye measurements, astigmatism, retinal and corneal health, glaucoma, work and visual priorities. Different lenses offer different ranges of focus and may cause effects such as glare or halos. No lens guarantees complete freedom from glasses.
5
Can vision lost to glaucoma be restored?
Glaucoma damage is usually permanent. Treatment aims to lower eye pressure and reduce the risk of further loss. Regular monitoring remains important even when vision feels unchanged.
6
Will I need glaucoma drops for life?
Some people need long-term drops, while others may be treated with laser, surgery or a combination. Treatment can change if pressure, side effects or the condition changes. Do not stop prescribed drops without speaking to the ophthalmologist.
7
Why do I need a retinal examination if my diabetes is controlled and my vision is normal?
Diabetic retinopathy can develop before symptoms. Retinal examination helps detect changes early. The interval depends on the type of diabetes, pregnancy, retinal findings and current guidance, so follow the schedule advised by the diabetes and eye-care teams.
8
Are injections into the eye painful?
Numbing drops and antiseptic preparation are used before an intravitreal injection. People may feel pressure or brief discomfort. Mild irritation can occur afterward, but severe pain, increasing redness or reduced vision requires urgent review.
9
Which eye symptoms require urgent assessment?
Seek urgent care for sudden loss or marked reduction of vision, new flashes with many floaters, a curtain or shadow across the vision, severe eye pain with nausea or vomiting, a chemical splash, serious injury, or a painful red eye while wearing contact lenses.
10
What should I do if a chemical splashes into my eye?
Start rinsing immediately with plenty of clean running water. Hold the eyelids open and continue irrigation while arranging emergency care. Remove contact lenses only if they come out easily. Do not rub the eye or delay rinsing while looking for a particular solution.
11
Do screens permanently damage the eyes?
Normal screen use has not been shown to cause permanent eye damage, but long periods can contribute to dryness, strain, headache and temporary blurred vision. Regular breaks, comfortable lighting, an appropriate viewing distance and treatment of dry eye may help.
12
Can my child's myopia be prevented from worsening?
Progression can often be slowed but not always stopped. Outdoor time is encouraged, and selected spectacle, contact-lens or low-dose atropine approaches may be considered after assessment. The plan requires monitoring of vision and eye growth.
13
Will my child grow out of a squint?
Some eye misalignment in early infancy may resolve, but a persistent, constant or newly developed squint needs assessment. Treatment may involve glasses, amblyopia therapy or surgery and is often more effective when started early.
14
When should a child have an eye assessment?
Children should take part in recommended newborn and childhood vision screening. Arrange an earlier assessment for a white pupil reflex, persistent squint, unusual eye movements, significant light sensitivity, an eye injury, poor visual behavior or a strong family history of childhood eye disease.
15
Are nonprescription eye drops safe?
Simple lubricating drops are generally low risk, but redness-relief and combination drops may not be suitable for repeated use. Steroid eye drops can raise eye pressure and worsen some infections. Do not use a steroid-containing eye drop unless it has been prescribed for the current problem.
16
How can contact-lens wearers reduce the risk of infection?
Wash and dry your hands before handling lenses, follow the replacement schedule, clean and replace the case, and keep lenses away from tap water. Do not sleep, shower or swim in lenses unless specifically advised. Remove the lenses and seek same-day care for pain, marked redness, light sensitivity or reduced vision.
17
Can laser vision correction permanently remove the need for glasses?
It can reduce dependence on glasses in suitable patients, but the result varies and prescription can change over time. Age-related near-vision difficulty can still develop. Corneal measurements, prescription stability and overall eye health determine whether treatment is appropriate.
View All
×
