Ayushman Bharat Se Free Eye Surgery — Indumati Netralaya, Prayagraj

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the Government of India's flagship health insurance scheme for economically weaker families. Launched in 2018, it provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. This is the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme, covering over 55 crore people across India.

Under PM-JAY, eligible families can receive free treatment at any empanelled hospital — both government and private. The scheme covers the entire cost of treatment including hospital admission, diagnostics, medicines, surgical procedures, implants, food during hospital stay, and follow-up care for up to 15 days after discharge. There are no restrictions based on family size, age, or gender. The scheme is entirely cashless and paperless at the point of care, which means patients do not need to pay anything out of pocket.

For eye care specifically, Ayushman Bharat covers a wide range of procedures including cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, diabetic retinopathy laser treatment, corneal transplant, and other ophthalmic surgeries. Indumati Netralaya has been empanelled under PM-JAY since December 2024, and we have performed hundreds of free eye surgeries under this scheme for patients from Prayagraj, Mirzapur, and Kaushambi districts.

Who Is Eligible for Ayushman Bharat?

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY covers families that were identified based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data. In rural areas, the following categories of families are eligible:

• Families with no adult member between the age of 16 and 59 years
• Families with a female head and no adult male member between 16 and 59 years
• Families with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult member
• SC/ST households
• Landless households whose major source of income is manual casual labour
• Families living in kutcha houses with only one room
• Families with no member earning more than Rs 5,000 per month
• Destitute families living on alms
• Manual scavenger families
• Primitive tribal groups
• Legally released bonded labourers

In urban areas, workers in occupations such as rag picking, begging, domestic work, street vending, construction labour, plumbing, painting, welding, security guarding, sweeping, and other informal sector jobs are also eligible. If you are unsure whether your family is covered, visit our hospital or call +91 8081565880 — our Ayushman desk can check your eligibility instantly using your Aadhaar number or ration card.

Documents Required for Free Eye Surgery

To get free eye treatment under Ayushman Bharat at Indumati Netralaya, please bring the following documents:

• Ayushman Bharat Golden Card (PM-JAY card) — This is the primary document. If you do not have one yet, our Ayushman desk can help you get it made.
• Aadhaar Card — For identity verification and biometric authentication at the hospital.
• Ration Card — As additional identity and address proof. This also helps verify family eligibility if needed.
• Mobile Number — Linked to your Aadhaar card, required for OTP verification during the authorization process.
• Any Previous Medical Reports — If you have earlier eye checkup reports, prescriptions, or medical history documents, please bring them. This helps our doctors plan your treatment better.

If you do not have an Ayushman Bharat Golden Card, do not worry. You can get it made at any Common Service Centre (CSC) or Jan Seva Kendra near you. You can also visit our hospital directly — our Ayushman help desk staff will check your eligibility and assist you with the card creation process. The card is made free of cost.

Step-by-Step Process to Get Free Eye Surgery

Getting free eye surgery under Ayushman Bharat at Indumati Netralaya is a simple and straightforward process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Call or Visit the Hospital — Call our helpline at +91 8081565880 to book an appointment, or walk in directly to our hospital at Meja Road, Near HDFC Bank, Opposite D.G.S Guest House, Meja, Prayagraj 212303. You can also reach us through WhatsApp.
2. Eye Checkup and Diagnosis — Our eye doctors will conduct a thorough examination of your eyes. This includes vision testing, slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure check, and a dilated fundus examination. The checkup is free for all patients.
3. Eligibility Verification — If surgery is needed, visit our Ayushman Bharat desk at the hospital. Our staff will verify your PM-JAY eligibility using your Aadhaar card and biometric authentication. This takes just a few minutes.
4. Pre-Authorization — Once eligibility is confirmed, our team will submit a pre-authorization request to the PM-JAY portal. This is usually approved within a few hours. You do not need to do anything — our staff handles the entire process.
5. Pre-Operative Tests — Before surgery, we conduct necessary tests including blood pressure check, blood sugar test, and biometry (to measure the correct lens power for your eye). All tests are covered under Ayushman Bharat.
6. Surgery Day — On the day of surgery, arrive at the hospital as advised by our team. The surgery itself typically takes 15 to 30 minutes. You will be able to go home the same day or the next morning depending on the procedure.
7. Post-Operative Care — We provide free medicines, eye drops, protective eye shields, and detailed instructions for home care. Follow-up visits at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery are also covered under the scheme.

The entire process — from checkup to surgery to follow-up — is completely free under Ayushman Bharat. There are no hidden charges or extra fees.

What Eye Treatments Are Covered?

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY covers a comprehensive range of eye surgeries and treatments at Indumati Netralaya. The major covered procedures include:

• Cataract Surgery — Both Phacoemulsification (Phaco) and Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) with intraocular lens implantation. This is the most common eye surgery performed under Ayushman Bharat at our hospital.
• Glaucoma Surgery — Trabeculectomy and other glaucoma surgical procedures to reduce intraocular pressure and prevent vision loss. Laser trabeculoplasty is also covered.
• Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment — Laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injections for managing diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
• Pterygium Surgery — Surgical removal of pterygium (a growth on the surface of the eye) with conjunctival autograft to prevent recurrence.
• Squint Correction Surgery — Surgical correction of misaligned eyes (strabismus) in both children and adults.
• Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) — Surgery for blocked tear ducts that cause persistent watering and infection of the eyes.
• Eyelid Surgery — Procedures for drooping eyelids (ptosis), eyelid tumours, and entropion/ectropion correction.

For a complete list of covered procedures and their package rates, you can visit the official PM-JAY website or ask at our Ayushman desk.

DBCS UP State Scheme

In addition to Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the Uttar Pradesh state government also runs the Deen Bandhu Chhotemal Swarojgar Yojana (DBCS) scheme which provides free cataract surgery to eligible patients. Under this scheme, patients from UP who do not have an Ayushman Bharat card but belong to economically weaker sections can still receive free cataract surgery at empanelled hospitals including Indumati Netralaya.

The DBCS scheme specifically targets cataract blindness in rural Uttar Pradesh and covers the cost of surgery, lens, medicines, and post-operative care. If you are unsure which scheme you qualify for, simply visit our hospital with your Aadhaar card and ration card. Our team will check your eligibility under both Ayushman Bharat and the DBCS scheme to ensure you receive the benefit you are entitled to.

How Indumati Netralaya Helps

Indumati Netralaya is more than just an eye hospital — we are a mission-driven organisation committed to eliminating preventable blindness in rural Uttar Pradesh. Since our establishment on September 9, 2024, we have built a comprehensive support system to ensure that no patient is turned away due to lack of awareness, documents, or transport. Here is how we help:

• Dedicated Ayushman Bharat Desk — Our in-house Ayushman desk handles everything from eligibility verification to pre-authorization to claim settlement. Patients do not need to visit any government office or fill complicated forms. Our trained staff manages the entire process on your behalf.
• Free Eye Camps Across 300+ Villages — Our outreach teams conduct regular free eye screening camps across Prayagraj, Mirzapur, and Kaushambi districts. At these camps, we identify patients who need surgery, check their Ayushman Bharat eligibility, and help them get their Golden Cards made on the spot through our mobile CSC coordination.
• Free Transport from Camp to Hospital — Patients identified at our eye camps who need surgery are provided free transport from the camp location to our hospital in Meja and back home after recovery.
• NABH Certified Quality — Indumati Netralaya received NABH Entry Level Certification in 2025, which means our hospital meets national standards for patient safety, infection control, and quality of care. This certification gives our patients confidence that they are receiving treatment at a professionally managed and accredited facility.
• Indumati Charitable Trust Support — For patients who fall through the gaps — those who are not eligible for Ayushman Bharat or DBCS but still cannot afford treatment — the Indumati Charitable Trust provides subsidized or free treatment through its CSR funding. No one who needs sight-saving surgery is turned away from our hospital.

We serve patients from three districts: Prayagraj, Mirzapur, and Kaushambi. Our hospital is located at Meja, approximately 40 km from Prayagraj Civil Lines. Despite this distance, thousands of patients travel to us because of our reputation for quality care, transparent processes, and genuine commitment to patient welfare.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Ayushman Bharat se free eye surgery kaise karaye?

Apna Ayushman Bharat Golden Card aur Aadhaar card lekar Indumati Netralaya, Meja Road, Prayagraj aayein. Hamare Ayushman desk par aapki eligibility check hogi, authorization milega, aur surgery bilkul free hogi. Koi hidden charge nahi hai. Helpline: +91 8081565880.

2. Indumati Netralaya mein Ayushman Bharat se kaunsi eye surgery free hai?

Cataract surgery (Phaco aur SICS dono), glaucoma surgery, diabetic retinopathy laser treatment, pterygium surgery, squint correction, DCR surgery, aur anya eye procedures Ayushman Bharat ke under free hain. Pre-operative tests, medicines, lens, aur post-operative care sab covered hai.

3. Ayushman Bharat card ke liye kya documents chahiye?

Ayushman Bharat Golden Card banwane ke liye aapko Aadhaar card, ration card, aur ek mobile number chahiye. Aap apne nazdeeki Common Service Centre (CSC), Jan Seva Kendra, ya hamare hospital ke Ayushman desk par card banwa sakte hain. Card bilkul free banta hai.

4. Kya Prayagraj ke gaon se hospital tak free transport milta hai?

Haan. Hamare eye camps mein jis patient ko surgery ki zarurat hoti hai, unke liye camp location se hospital tak aur surgery ke baad wapas ghar tak free transport ki vyavastha hoti hai. Abhi call karein: +91 8081565880.

5. Agar mera Ayushman Bharat card nahi hai toh kya free surgery ho sakti hai?

Agar aap BPL category mein aate hain toh hamare Ayushman desk par card banwaya ja sakta hai. Iske alawa DBCS UP State Scheme ke under bhi free cataract surgery milti hai. Financial hardship ke cases mein Indumati Charitable Trust bhi subsidy de sakti hai. Koi bhi patient zarurat ke time akela nahi chhoda jaata.

6. Indumati Netralaya NABH certified hai kya?

Haan, Indumati Netralaya ko 2025 mein NABH Entry Level Certification mili hai. Yeh certification hospital ki quality aur safety standards ko certify karti hai. September 2024 se ab tak hamare yahaan 2,500 se zyada successful eye surgeries ho chuki hain aur 300 se zyada villages mein free eye camps lagaye gaye hain.

For a detailed guide on Ayushman Bharat eye surgery, read our blog post on free cataract surgery under Ayushman Bharat.