Nepal is celebrated globally for pioneering affordable eye care and high-volume, high-quality cataract surgery. Kathmandu, the country’s capital, is home to some of the most advanced ophthalmic centers in South Asia, offering state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disorders, and refractive errors.
Overview & Selection Criteria
Kathmandu Valley represents the cultural, academic, commercial, and administrative heart of Nepal. Beyond its celebrated temples, heritage squares, and panoramic mountain views, the Valley is a living ecosystem of daily life: historic neighborhoods, educational institutions, artisan workshops, markets, and the everyday rhythms of its diverse communities. The following guide is curated to help residents, visitors, researchers, and newcomers understand the Valley through its people, places, and practices—with context that situates each highlight in its wider cultural and civic landscape.
Please note: The order below is an editorial ordering, not a medical ranking, and this guide is not medical advice. Services, opening times and fees change, so please confirm the services you need directly with each hospital before visiting, and consult a qualified eye specialist about your own eye care.
Curated Highlights & Key Recommendations
Below are primary highlights curated for quality, accessibility, and proven track record across the Kathmandu Valley. This selection reflects sustained community relevance and editorial judgment, with attention to public feedback, documented history, and the lived experience of the people who rely on these services, institutions, and destinations.
- Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology: Founded by Dr. Sanduk Ruit; global WHO collaborating center for ophthalmology and a pioneer in high-volume cataract surgery.
- Nepal Eye Hospital (Tripureshwor): The oldest specialized eye hospital in Nepal, offering comprehensive eye care and subsidized treatment.
1. Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology
Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, in Gaushala, Kathmandu, is the implementing body of the Nepal Eye Program, according to the institute. Founded by Dr. Sanduk Ruit, it is one of the best-known specialist eye hospitals in Kathmandu, and its work extends to community eye care across Nepal.
The institute is known for cataract surgery and other ophthalmic services. Its profile on the Nepal Eye Program site describes its role in delivering eye care through the program, and the institute’s own site is the source for its location and services.
2. Nepal Eye Hospital
Nepal Eye Hospital, in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, describes itself as a pioneering eye hospital established in 1974. It is the oldest specialized eye hospital in Nepal, and it offers comprehensive eye care from its Tripureshwor site.
Its official site lists comprehensive eye care, cataract surgery, and specialty clinics covering the retina, cornea, glaucoma and paediatric eye care, along with outpatient, surgical and inpatient services, imaging, pathology and community outreach.
3. B.P. Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies
B.P. Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies (BPKLCOS) is in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, adjacent to the emergency department within Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. It combines patient eye care with the training of ophthalmologists and optometrists.
According to the centre’s official site, ophthalmology teaching at the site began as a small wing in 1987, the MD in Ophthalmology programme started the same year, the Bachelor of Optometry programme followed in 1998, and BPKLCOS became an autonomous wing under the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, in 1996.
4. Matrika Eye Center
Matrika Eye Center, in Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu, is a specialist eye centre. Its official site lists outpatient consultations, eye surgeries including laser, cataract, squint and retina procedures, diagnostic services and an optical store, with care for both adults and children.
The centre’s site describes a full-service eye centre rather than a single-specialty clinic, making it a practical option for a routine eye examination as well as for surgical care, subject to confirmation with the centre itself.
5. Drishti Eye Care
Drishti Eye Care provides eye and ear, nose and throat care in Kathmandu. Its official site lists eight locations, including Kalanki, New Baneshwor, Chabahil, Jamal and Drishti @OM in Chabahil.
Because it operates as a network, patients can use the branch nearest to them, but the services available at each branch should be confirmed with Drishti Eye Care directly, as they may differ between locations.
6. Kathmandu Eye Center
Kathmandu Eye Center, on Mahalaxmistan Road in Lalitpur, was established in 2007 by Dr. Sagun Narayan Joshi, according to its official site. It provides comprehensive eye care, including cataract services, for patients in the Kathmandu Valley.
Its official site presents the centre as a comprehensive eye care practice, so it is a useful starting point for a general eye examination in the Lalitpur area, with specialist services confirmed directly with the centre.
7. Netradham Eye Care Center
Netradham Eye Care Center, in Kupondole, Lalitpur, was founded in September 2012 by a team of retina specialists, according to its official site. It lists comprehensive eye check-ups, retina and glaucoma care, cataract surgery and an optical shop among its services.
Its retina background makes it a relevant option for patients who have been referred for retina or glaucoma care, subject to confirmation with the centre itself.
8. Metro Eye Care
Metro Eye Care, in Subidhanagar, Kathmandu, is an eye clinic. Its official site names Dr. Govinda Paudyal, a vitreo-retina specialist, and lists contact lens and vision therapy services among its work.
The clinic’s site presents it as an eye clinic in Kathmandu offering retina, contact lens and vision therapy care, so patients should confirm the specific service they need with the clinic before visiting.
9. Sudrishti Eye Clinic
Sudrishti Eye Clinic, on Durbar Marg in Kathmandu, is an eye clinic. Its official site lists comprehensive eye examinations, cataract care and paediatric eye care among its services, with a team covering cataract, retina and glaucoma care.
Its central Durbar Marg location and its paediatric eye care services make it a practical option for families in central Kathmandu, subject to confirmation with the clinic itself.
10. Global Eye Center
Global Eye Center, in Battisputali, Kathmandu, is an eye centre whose official site lists cataract surgery, retina and glaucoma care, oculoplastic and aesthetic surgery and vision screening among its services. Its site describes a journey of more than ten years in eye care in Nepal.
The centre’s site also notes vision screening and outreach work, so patients should confirm current services and screening availability with the centre directly before visiting.
How to Choose an Eye Hospital in Kathmandu
Start by deciding what you need: a routine eye examination, glasses or contact lenses, cataract assessment, or follow-up for a known eye condition. Then check the hospital’s own official site for the services it lists, and confirm them directly with the hospital before you travel. Bring any previous prescriptions, glasses and eye reports with you, allow extra time for Kathmandu traffic, and ask the hospital about the documents or referrals it requires. If you need urgent eye care, seek help promptly rather than comparing options.
Local Insights & Practical Advice
When navigating services or planning visits in Kathmandu, keep in mind local traffic patterns, seasonal differences, and official operating hours. We recommend verifying contact details, visiting during off-peak hours where possible, and reviewing community feedback on our dedicated entity profiles.
Continuous Editorial Fact-Checking
Hamro Nepal actively monitors and updates this directory to ensure accurate addresses, contact numbers, and verified facilities. If you discover updated information, please use the Suggest an Edit feature to help us preserve the integrity of this public resource.
Sources
Details in this guide were checked against the hospitals’ own official sites and pages: Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (tilganga.org), Nepal Eye Hospital (nepaleyehospital.org), B.P. Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies (bpklcos.edu.np), Matrika Eye Center (matrikaeyecenter.org), Drishti Eye Care (drishtieye.org), Kathmandu Eye Center (kathmandueye.com), Netradham Eye Care Center (netradham.com.np), Metro Eye Care (metroeyecare.com.np), Sudrishti Eye Clinic (sudrishti.com.np) and Global Eye Center (globaleyehospital.org). No fees, hours or timings are listed because they change; please confirm them directly with each hospital.
