Surgeons of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) successfully carried out 220 sight-restoring surgeries during the 10th edition of the Mega Eye Surgical Camp organised under Operation Drishti in Tangdhar, Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the two-day surgical camp was conducted on September 24 and 25, 2026, at an underground operation theatre in Tangdhar, a shelling-prone area located along the Line of Control (LoC).
The camp represented a significant medical outreach effort in a remote border region where access to specialised ophthalmic treatment can be challenging. AFMS surgical teams performed 220 procedures aimed at restoring or improving the vision of patients from the region.
A majority of the interventions involved cataract surgery. The medical teams also performed selective retinal procedures and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries, extending specialised ophthalmic care to patients requiring more complex treatment.
The use of an underground operation theatre enabled the medical teams to conduct the surgical programme in Tangdhar despite the area’s exposure to security challenges associated with its proximity to the Line of Control.
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth visited the Mega Eye Surgical Camp during its two-day conduct and interacted with patients undergoing treatment. He also distributed medicines and gifts to patients at the facility.
Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DG AFMS) Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja also visited the camp and reviewed the medical initiative. He appreciated the surgeons and members of the local team for their skills and efforts in successfully conducting the large number of ophthalmic procedures.
Operation Drishti’s Mega Eye Surgical Camp is aimed at taking specialised eye care and surgical treatment to people living in areas where access to advanced medical facilities can be limited by geography and other operational challenges.
The 10th edition demonstrated the ability of AFMS medical teams to deliver specialised surgical care in demanding conditions, combining military medical infrastructure and specialist expertise to provide treatment to communities in a sensitive border area.
With 220 sight-restoring procedures completed over just two days, the Tangdhar camp marked another major medical outreach initiative by the Armed Forces Medical Services along the Line of Control.
