New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS) — In a medical first for India’s government sector, the Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR) has successfully performed Robotic Custom Laser Cataract Surgery using the advanced ALLY Adaptive Cataract Treatment System, becoming only the second centre in South Asia to do so.
The milestone, hailed as a breakthrough for military healthcare, marks the Ophthalmology Department’s entry into the frontier of robotic, bladeless, and computer-guided eye surgery. Brigadier S.K. Mishra led the team in performing the hospital’s first-ever Femto-second Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS) on a 61-year-old patient.
Unlike conventional methods, FLACS automates key steps — including corneal incisions, capsulotomy, and cataract fragmentation — with micron-level precision, ensuring enhanced safety and outcomes.
According to the Defence Ministry, the integration of this technology underscores the Armed Forces’ commitment to providing world-class healthcare to its personnel and their families.
Just a day earlier, AHRR’s Ophthalmology Department also conducted a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery using a 3D microscope, another first for the Armed Forces. The system employs special 3D polarisation glasses and a 55-inch 4K ultra-HD display, improving visualisation while reducing surgical time, complication rates, and risks of photo-toxicity.
“These advancements reaffirm AHRR’s position at the forefront of clinical innovation in eye care,” the Ministry said.
Guided by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, and Director General Armed Forces Medical Services Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AHRR continues to expand its specialised medical capabilities.
Earlier this year, AFMS signed an MoU with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) to boost mental health support for Defence personnel through joint research, training, and advanced psychiatric care, with a focus on conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
