The Tilganga Eye Centre in Kathmandu, Nepal, with
the site of its future expansion in the foreground.

Overview

The not-for-profit Tilganga Eye Centre in Kathmandu, Nepal is the Himalayan Cataract Project’s home base (See Tilganga Eye Centre website link). Though Tilganga is independent, it is inextricably connected with the Himalayan Cataract Project. While the HCP also works in surrounding Himalayan countries, Tilganga is the center of the HCP’s Nepal programs.

Founded in 1994 by the HCP Co-Director, Dr. Sanduk Ruit (see Dr. Sanduk Ruit), the Fred Hollows Foundation, and the Jogmon Kongtrul 3rd Rimpoche Trust, Tilganga was the first outpatient cataract surgery center in Nepal. It is now the region’s preeminent center for cataract microsurgery, using intraocular lens implant technology, a technique introduced by Dr. Ruit. Tilganga is the hub of high-quality eye care in the Himalaya and has become well known throughout the Himalayan region for its high-quality, affordable eye care services.

In 2003, Tilganga physicians performed over 9,000 surgeries and examined over 130,000 outpatients. In addition, the Centre’s outreach program, which includes screening in Kathmandu and outlying regions, examined over 35,000 people.