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PGI Chandigarh: World Leader in Saving Children's Sight
25 Aug
Summary
- PGI Chandigarh now leads global pediatric glaucoma care.
- It handled 7,269 children, exceeding Miami's 4,133 annually.
- PGI pioneered surgeries, devices, and genetic studies for infant eye health.
Chandigarh's PGI has become the world's foremost center for specialized pediatric glaucoma care, outperforming even globally recognized institutions. The Advanced Eye Centre at PGI managed 7,269 children, including 602 new referrals, during the 2025-26 period. This volume surpasses the average annual patient numbers at the Samuel and Ethel Balkan International Pediatric Glaucoma Center in Miami.
This significant patient load was highlighted by a national study led by Dr. Sushmita Kaushik, founder secretary of the Indian Pediatric Glaucoma Society. The study indicated PGI treated the highest number of newly diagnosed childhood glaucoma cases in India, contributing substantially to preventing avoidable childhood blindness.
Over 14 years, PGI's glaucoma clinic has evolved from a weekly service to a critical lifeline for children with this rare, potentially blinding eye disease. The center's international recognition stems from performing India's first goniotomy, developing an affordable glaucoma drainage device, pioneering non-invasive laser imaging, and leading crucial genetic studies.
