In an era marked by medical marvels, Dr. Sanduk Ruit, a humble yet extraordinary Nepali eye surgeon, has quietly restored sight to more than 100,000 underprivileged patients—often at no cost—transforming the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized people.
Despite his monumental contributions, Dr. Ruit’s work remains relatively unknown to the wider world. For decades, he has dedicated himself to eradicating preventable blindness in Nepal and beyond, pioneering affordable cataract surgery techniques that have become a global model for accessible eye care.
“Blindness should not be a sentence to poverty,” Dr. Ruit often says. His innovative, low-cost surgical methods—using small-incision cataract surgery—have slashed the price of treatment from thousands of dollars to as little as $25, making sight-restoring surgery accessible even in the most remote regions.
Through his work at the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu and numerous outreach camps, Dr. Ruit and his team have reached those who would otherwise remain in darkness—farmers, laborers, and children from the world’s poorest communities. His impact extends far beyond Nepal, with programs in India, Myanmar, North Korea, and Africa.
Yet despite the staggering number of lives transformed, Dr. Ruit’s story remains under the radar for many outside the field of global health. “His humility is as profound as his impact,” says a colleague at Tilganga. “He doesn’t seek the spotlight, he seeks solutions.”
As the world grapples with health inequities, Dr. Ruit’s model stands as a beacon of hope—a testament to the power of innovation, compassion, and unwavering dedication. His selfless efforts are not only restoring sight but also restoring dignity, independence, and hope to countless individuals across the globe.
