The Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (R.I.O.), at Manohar DasEye Hospital is one of the Pioneer Institute in the country providing eye care services, par excellence, to patient belonging to eastern U.P. and adjoining parts of other states.

The building of the hospital was donated by Late LalaManohar Das,Banker,Philanthropist,a very distinguished social worker and a person of great repute.The hospital has been named “Manohar Das Eye Hospital” after him.The foundation stone of the hospital was laid down on 16th November, 1892, by Sir Auckland Calvin’ the then Lt. Governor of Chief Commissioner of north-west Province, Awadh.Till 1933, the hospital was managed by municipal board but letter on, the State Government took over its management and one eye surgeon of Provincial Medical Services was then posted to manage it.In the year 1960, the hospital was upgraded as a “Centre of Advanced Eye Treatment”, with the Government sanctioning extra grant for the latest equipments and building.

The institute has also been nominated as “EyeCare Training Centre” by the Central Government and is actively involved in imparting training to ophthalmologists from all over the country, in the sub-speciality of ophthalmology phacoemulsification,Small Incision Cataract Surgery,Glaucoma,Medical Retina and Paediatric Ophthalmology.

“Central Ophthalmic Mobile Unit” established in the institute, is engaged in performing eye relief camps and various School Health Programmes under the National Programme for Control of Blindness.Department of ophthalmology- In 1963, the hospital was affiliated to the MotiLal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad and a Department of Ophthalmology of the medical college was established here. Dr. Dan Bahadur Chandra, the then superintendent of the hospital to over its reins as a Reader and the First Head of the Department.

In the Department of Ophthalmology, teaching of M.B.B.S. and M.S. is imparted.In 1964-65 an expansion of the hospital was done with construction of an OPD Wing,Pathology,Library and seven private wards.

Presently, under the dynamic leadership of its present head Prof.Kamaljeet Singh, the department is reaching great heights of academic excellence.

The hospital acquired the status of State Institute of Ophthalmology in 1976, with Prof. D.B. Chandra as its First Director.The Late Prof.Devendra Srivastava took over as the Director in 1980,Prof.R.N. Mishra in 1991 and Prof. VipinBihari in 1997.Under there skilful leadership,the Institute achieved great popularity and esteem.

Prof. S.P. Singh took over as the Director of the Institute in 2005 and under his dynamic leadership,the institute was bestowed the status of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology. The hospital has become a role model for tertiary eye care centre in India, and has reached unprecedented heights under the very able guidance of Prof. S.P. Singh. A new operation theatre building was constructed in 2002.In the first floor of thisO.T.building, patients having diseases of Squint,Retina,Lacrimal sac and other sub-specialities are operated here.In the OPD approximately 300000 patient are treated every year.

The Institute’s Director, Prof. S.P. Singh has a dream of elevating the status of R.I.O. at par with Dr. R.P.Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences,AIIMS,NewDelhi. Regarding this, a proposal for“Centre of Excellence for Ophthalmic Sciences”, at R.I.O., Allahabad is under consideration, at an advanced stage at the level of government, hopefully, we shall achieve it soon.