Kerala, [India], 9th September, 2025:. When Dr. Amita Verghese and Dr. Verghese Joseph started their eye clinic in 1990, advanced eye-care centers were scarce in Central Travancore. Most surgeries involved removing the clouded lens without replacement, leaving patients dependent on thick glasses. The husband-wife team was among the first in the state to perform intraocular lens implantation, giving patients clearer vision after surgery. Additionally, they conducted various ocular surgical procedures, diagnostic evaluations and medical management of patients.
Thirty-five years later, their endeavour has grown into Amita Eye Care (a unit of Eye Microsurgery and Laser Centre). “Back then in 1990, we had to convince patients that keeping an artificial lens inside their eye was safe,” recalls Dr. Verghese Joseph. “Now families drive to the hospital from several districts of Kerala because they know what to expect.”
The hospital’s timeline mirrors advances in ophthalmology itself. Medical retina services with laser photocoagulation began in 1993. The year 2000 brought Vitreoretinal surgery capabilities with a DORC vitreous machine. By 2006, they were screening premature babies for retinopathy and providing anti-VEGF therapy for all kinds of retinal conditions.
A significant expansion came in 2018 with a new 6,500-square-foot operating theatre complex spanning an entire floor. The facility earned NABH pre-accreditation that same year, after receiving ISO 9001-2015 certification. Four laminar-flow operating theatres now handle everything from basic cataract removal to complex corneal transplants and advanced retinal surgeries.
The 2022 launch of a dedicated Vitreoretinal department brought advanced OCT imaging, fluorescein angiography, and specialized retinal lasers for retinal surgeries under one roof. This was the same year the hospital inaugurated the C V Joseph Memorial Vitreoretinal Department on the 5th floor of the International Tourist Complex building. Dr. Shishir Verghese and Dr. Priya Basaiawmoit joined Amita Eye Care in the same year, and the latter took charge of the Anterior Segment department. The hospital also received NABH certification in the same year, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to quality and patient safety.
The training component has grown equally impressive. Since the advent of DNB Ophthalmology, their phacoemulsification fellowship program has graduated 40 doctors, making it one of the only hands-on training centers for this technique in Central Kerala. The hospital also runs diploma programs in Optometry and Ophthalmic Technology.
Looking ahead, the September launch of Central Travancore’s first LASIK center represents another regional first. Dr. Amita Verghese sees it as a natural progression rather than a dramatic change. “We’ve always added services as technology became available and affordable,” she explains. “The goal remains the same – comprehensive eye care close to home.”
For more information, visit: www.amitaeyecare.com
