Bengaluru, 27 June

A cataract awareness cyclothon was organised in Jayanagar to promote early diagnosis and timely treatment of cataracts, the leading cause of preventable blindness in India.

The event, held as part of Cataract Awareness Month, was organised by Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital in collaboration with Sun Pharma on 26 June.

Over 75 cyclists, including healthcare professionals and eye donors from Shraddha Eye Care — the non-profit wing of Nethradhama—participated in the initiative, according to a press release.

The cyclothon was flagged off by RK Gupta, Trustee of the Koshika Foundation, a non-profit organisation that sponsors free eye check-ups, eye surgeries, and heart surgeries for underprivileged individuals.

Dr Sri Ganesh, Chairman and Managing Director of Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital, was also present.

Cyclists rode through key areas of Jayanagar, spreading awareness about proactive eye care and the importance of early intervention.

Cataracts account for over 66.2 per cent of blindness cases in India, according to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey (2015-19).

While effective surgical treatment is available, delayed diagnosis — often due to lack of awareness, continues to result in irreversible vision loss, particularly among the elderly and rural populations, the release stated.