Our Journey: Advancing Eye Care Since 1981
For decades, limited access to timely eye care has contributed to avoidable vision loss across North Bengal. The region’s diverse geography, encompassing hilly terrain, tea gardens and remote settlements, has posed significant challenges in delivering essential ophthalmic services to underserved communities.
Recognising this need, a group of socially committed members of the Lions Club of Siliguri Greater envisioned an institution dedicated to making quality eye care accessible to all. This vision took shape in 1981 with the establishment of Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital under the Greater Lions Seva Nidhi Trust, with a mission to serve the people of Eastern India.
Strategically located in Siliguri, a vital gateway connecting North Bengal with the Northeast and neighbouring countries, the hospital has evolved into a major regional centre for comprehensive ophthalmic care. Over the years, it has served patients from West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and neighbouring regions.
Today, Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital operates a network of three hospitals and over 60 Vision Centres, serving more than 4,00,000 patients and performing nearly 40,000 eye surgeries annually.
The hospital provides comprehensive outpatient and inpatient services across specialised departments, including Cataract and Phaco Surgery, Retina and Vitreous, Glaucoma, Cornea and External Eye Diseases, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), Neuro-Ophthalmology and Oculoplasty. Supported by modern diagnostic facilities, 10 modular operation theatres and an experienced team of ophthalmologists and healthcare professionals, the institution addresses a wide spectrum of eye conditions, from routine consultations to complex surgical needs.
Beyond clinical services, the hospital contributes to strengthening the region’s eye-care workforce through professional training for optometrists and technical personnel. Its commitment to inclusive eye care extends into the community through outreach initiatives, school eye-screening programmes and vision camps that promote early detection and improve access to essential eye-care services.
In 2024, the institution received the FICCI National Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, recognising its commitment to community-based eye care and efforts to reach underserved populations.
Looking ahead, the hospital’s strategic roadmap, *Vision Beyond 2030*, aims to expand surgical capacity to 1,00,000 procedures annually, strengthen clinical training, invest in advanced technology and deepen community outreach. Building on more than four decades of service, Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital remains committed to reducing avoidable blindness and making quality eye care accessible to communities across the region.
