Bengaluru hosts the 25th Phaco Festival (10th Edition), blending art, science, and access to redefine the future of eye care
Bengaluru, NFAPost: The Phaco Festival 2026, commemorating 25 years of the Phaco movement and its 10th edition, opened on a high note in Bengaluru, reaffirming its position as one of the most distinctive gatherings on the global ophthalmology calendar. What began in 2001 as an intimate congregation of 150 clinicians has today evolved into a landmark forum attracting over 1,000 delegates and faculty from six continents, united by a singular credo: advancing eye care through the art and science of practice—without commercial agenda.
Setting the tone at the opening ceremony was Dr. Sri Ganesh, Organising Chairman of Phaco Festival 2026 and Managing Director of Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital. Welcoming the gathering, he reaffirmed the festival’s founding philosophy.
“This platform stands for pure knowledge sharing—no profit motive, no hidden agenda. It is about making each other better clinicians.”
A Chief Guest Who Embodies Compassionate Excellence
A defining moment of the inaugural session was the felicitation of Chief Guest Dr. C. N. Manjunath, Chairman and Managing Trustee of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research and Member of Parliament (Bengaluru Rural). A Padma Shri awardee, Dr. Manjunath was introduced as “a physician whose name is synonymous with accessible, world-class healthcare in India.”
What sets him apart, speakers noted, is not just clinical excellence but moral leadership.
“Excellence in medicine isn’t measured only by technique,” the audience heard, “but by impact—by lives saved, families restored, and institutions built on humanity.”
His presence, organisers said, perfectly mirrored the Phaco Festival’s enduring ethos.
Global Minds, One Learning Commons
Phaco Festival 2026 convenes an exceptional international faculty, reflecting the increasingly borderless nature of ophthalmic science. Eminent experts such as Dr. Michael Nords, Dr. Ruth Lapid, Dr. Anton von Helden, and Dr. Brian Hung Young Lin joined peers from across India to exchange ideas, challenge established practices, and refine clinical judgment.
India’s own stalwarts—including Dr. Kiki Mehta, Dr. Mohan Rajan, Dr. Arun Murugavarman, and Dr. M. S. Ravindra—added depth and authority to the discourse.
A special focus was placed on the Young Ophthalmologists’ Society of India (YOC), represented by more than a thousand members. The message to them was unequivocal:
“You are not just our future—you are our present. Learn aggressively, question us, and carry forward ideas you will treasure.”
Reimagining How Ophthalmologists Learn
True to its reputation for innovation, PHACO Festival 2026 challenges conventional teaching formats. Delegates engage in a ‘silent conference’ model with three parallel halls and masterclasses, enabling personalised learning pathways. The programme features 3D definitive live surgeries streamed simultaneously across channels, live podcast sessions with candid clinician conversations, and Hindsight sessions where master surgeons critically revisit earlier management strategies.
Injecting creative energy into academic debate is the much-anticipated ‘Marvel vs DC’ format—designed to spark spirited yet rigorous discussion on complex clinical choices.
Hands-on learning remains central, with pre-conference wet labs on SMILE Pro, DALK, MIGS in glaucoma, and phakic IOLs, offering participants practical mastery alongside theory.
Beyond the Podium: Community, Culture, Celebration
Phaco Festival’s ambition extends well beyond lecture halls.
“This is more than PowerPoint slides and lunch,” an organiser remarked. “It is a holistic experience—where learning, collaboration, and inspiration come together.”
This vision is supported by strong industry participation, including global partners such as Carl Zeiss, Hoya Surgical Optics, Rayner, and Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems. The organising committee—led by Dr. Supriya Sriganesh and Dr. Savio Pereira—was widely commended for months of meticulous preparation.
The opening day concluded with the ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ Gala Dinner, a vibrant celebration featuring traditional attire, live dhol, music, and spirited networking—reinforcing the festival’s belief that professional bonds are forged as much in shared experiences as in scientific sessions.
A Quarter-Century Milestone, A Forward Gaze
As Phaco Festival 2026 unfolds, it stands as both celebration and statement—marking 25 years of uncompromising commitment to ophthalmic education while charting an ambitious course for the future.
For the global community gathered in Bengaluru, the promise is clear: three days not merely of learning, but of transformation—returning home as better physicians, better surgeons, and stronger custodians of a tradition that places patients, ethics, and excellence at the very heart of eye care.
