Ophthalmology in Pune

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Medically trained doctors who care for patients who have eye and vision conditions are called ophthalmologists and are the only practitioners diagnosed and trained to treat all eye and vision problems. Their practice is very diverse, dealing with a wide range of issues and clinical conditions. Some of the most common conditions that they treat and manage include:

• Minor and major eye injuries
• Infectious eye disease
• Dry eyes
• Proptosis (bulged eyes)
• Glaucoma 
• Cataracts 
• Corneal pathology 
• Retinal problems, such as bleeding and detachment or tears of the retina
• Squints 
• Eye-related neurological problems
• Excessive tearing
• Intraocular inflammation
• Chronic eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

An ophthalmologist can offer a wide range of medical services, including surgical eye procedures. Some of the most common procedures that ophthalmologists perform are as follows:

• Eye examinations.
• Specialized tests, such as ultrasonography of the eyes and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Refractive surgery to correct vision, such as LASIK.
• Cataract surgery.
• Glaucoma surgery.
• Cancer treatment.
• Reconstructive surgery to repair birth abnormalities or trauma, such as crossed eyes.
• Neoplasm removal.
• Corneal transplants.
• Repairing torn or detached retinas.
• Strabismus surgery.
• Oculoplastic surgery (plastic surgery around the eye).
• Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses.

How Long Should I Stay in Pune?

Your length of stay depends on the type of treatment you undergo. In general, you may need to stay in Pune for at least a week or to let your eyes recover and to attend follow-up checkups, where your ophthalmologist checks your condition and make sure that your eyes are healing properly. If everything is fine, they will allow you to leave for home. However, for some surgery, such as retinal detachment surgery, you should avoid flying until your eyes have fully healed. Therefore, it is best that you wait 3 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer, before you travel home.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on the type of surgery you underwent, your age, and overall health. It is generally recommended to rest your eyes for a few days. With LASIK, you may be able to return to work after a day. After a corneal transplant, you should wait for 2 to 3 weeks until you go back to work. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your ophthalmologist will give you instructions to care for your eye after the procedure. It is crucial that you follow all of them to have a quick recovery and obtain optimum results. To keep the result or to prevent complications, you will need to make some lifestyle changes, such as avoid smoking and staying active. You also need to attend regular checkups, typically once a year, with your local eye doctor or your ophthalmologist in Pune.

What's the Success Rate?

Thanks to the continuous advancement of ophthalmology, eye treatments, and surgeries are now highly successful and safe. For instance, the latest research of LASIK showed that it has a 99% success rate in achieving 20/40 vision or better, whereas the success rate of corneal transplant is as high as 90%. However, it is important to be aware of the risks and side effects of eye treatments and surgeries, such as dry eyes, temporary visual problems, overcorrections, under correction, astigmatism, regression, and, very rarely, vision loss.

Are there Alternatives?

For some eye problems, you may be able to go to an optometrist as an alternative. However, if your conditions need to be treated through surgery, your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Ophthalmology in and around Pune

About Pune

Pune is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. With an estimated population of 3.13 million, it is the ninth most populous city in the country. Like many other cities in India, this city is a perfect blend of ancient and modern. It’s a thriving metropolis that still retains a few of its old buildings and residential areas. The city is famous for the Osho International Meditation Resort, an ashram founded by the late guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. There is a lot to see and do in this city that cannot be packed into a short weekend trip. Recently, many tourists visit the city for its medical treatments.

Pune’s is in sync with India’s fast-growing medical tourism. Domestic and foreign patients prefer the city to get the best healthcare. Medical cost is relatively cheaper here than in any other medical tourism country. The government is expanding this sector rapidly to drive a strong growth rate. With high-quality hospitals, infrastructure, and well-trained medical professionals, the city has a lot of contribution in helping India to be the number one medical destination in the world.

A wide range of medical treatments is available in Pune, from Breast Augmentation, Tummy Tuck, to Otoplasty. Columbia Asia Hospital Pune, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center, and Apollo Jehangir Hospital are some of the best hospitals with the highest ratings.

Popular Areas in Pune

Pune has a lively nightlife and vibrant atmosphere due to its large student population. It’s sometimes called “Oxford of the East” because there are numerous colleges and institutes here. It is also well known for its hill forts that offer panoramic views, fantastic restaurants, and good museums. The city has a magnificent history of nearly 1600 years.

• Shaniwar Wada is a historical fortification situated at the very heart of Pune. Built in 1732, it was originally a seven-storied capital building of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. It’s an amazing place for history buffs. Tourists can enjoy some live shows in the evening.
• Mahadji Shinde Chhatri has an extremely beautiful architecture that reflects the style used in Rajasthan. It is a memorial dedicated to the great soldier, Mahadji Shinde who served as the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army under the Peshwas for twenty years. The memorial consists of a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Pataleshwar Caves is a religious shrine that dates back to 700 – 800 AD. Located on Jungli Maharaj Road, the shrine has grand statues of Nandi, Sita, Ram, Lakshman, Lakshmi, Ganesh, and a big Shivalingam.
• Parvati Hill is the highest point in Pune. It offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city and is especially breathtaking during sunrise and sunset. The hill is home to four temples.
• Osho International Meditation Resort draws thousands of sannyasins since 1990. It is the perfect place to get some peace of mind. With various meditation techniques, the resort is suitable for those who want to indulge in some luxurious meditation. The resort has a swimming pool, sauna, spa, and guesthouse.

Weather and Climate in Pune

March to June is summer and the temperature can get really high during this season, with the highest temperature ever recorded is 43.3 °C (109.9 °F). The end of May usually experiences dusty winds. Humidity is also very high.

Monsoon or rainy season starts in June and last until October. There are moderate rainfall and the average temperature ranging from 22 °C to 28 °C (72 to 82 °F). July is the wettest month of the year with occasional Hailstorms.

Winter has the most pleasant weather. It starts from December to February. The average daytime temperature is around 26 °C (79 °F) and night temperature can drop to 5 °C to 6 °C (41 to 43 °F). Due to the pollution, the city’s winter temperature has warmed up by 6 degrees.

Getting Around in Pune

Pune International Airport is still the main airport in the city until the completion of the proposed Chattrapati Sambhaji International Airport. This airport has one terminal that serves both domestic and international flights. Major airlines such as Air India and budget airlines such as AirAsia India, GoAir, and IndiGo operate flights from this airport. The international flights connect the city with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Frankfurt.

To get to the city center from Pune International Airport, taxis, buses, auto-rickshaws, and car rentals are available. There are four bus lines that reach the city center: 24B, 102, 158 and 158A. A bus ride usually takes 45 minutes. Taxis are relatively affordable, there are pre-paid and metered taxis out on the arrivals area.

Tourists can use the PMPL City bus to get around Pune. Almost all parts of the city can be reached by the buses, but be aware that it can be very crowded and smoke-belching. The fare ranges from 5 INR to 22 INR. Auto-rickshaws are widely available within the city; there are metered and pre-paid auto-rickshaws. If you choose the metered one, always make sure that the drivers use the meter before getting in. Taxis are another nice option; the prices range between 7 INR/km to 20 INR/km. online hailing apps are also available. There are many car rentals and tourists can drive around the city, but there is a lot of traffic and bad driving in Pune.

Tourist Visas in Pune

All visitors, except citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, need to obtain and apply for a visa to enter India. Citizens of South Korea and Japan can apply for a visa on arrival. E-Visa is available for 150 nationalities. Tourists coming for medical treatment can apply for the medical attendant e-visa.

Passport must be valid for at least 180 days after your entry to India and should have at least two blank pages.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: Indian rupee (INR) is the local currency. 1 USD converts to 70 INR.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widely available in Pune. Tourists can find many exchange services around the city. Credit and debit cards are accepted at several restaurants, hotels, and shops. It is advisable to always carry cash. Tipping is not mandatory; you can always tip 10 to 15 percent of the billed amount in restaurants.
3. Local Language: Marathi is the official language of Pune. Most people also speak Hindi. English is widely spoken especially in tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Most of the population follows Hinduism. Other religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism have significant presences in the city.
5. Public Holidays: Pune celebrates major religious holidays. The city also celebrates several annual festivals such as Pune Festival, The Eateries Food Fest, and Pune International Film Festival.