Dr. Sanduk Ruit: The God of Sight
Introduction
Dr. Sanduk Ruit is a globally recognized ophthalmologist from Nepal, renowned for revolutionizing eye care by developing a small-incision cataract surgery technique that has restored the sight of over 180,000 people across Africa and Asia. Often referred to as the “God of Sight,” Dr. Ruit has dedicated his life to providing affordable eye care to people in the world’s most underserved regions. His innovative and cost-effective approach to cataract surgery has transformed the lives of countless individuals, earning him admiration and respect globally. In His Honor, we are presenting the Biography of Dr. Sanduk Ruit.
Quick Facts:
- Born: September 4, 1954 • Olangchung Gola, Taplejung, Nepal
- Parents: Sonam Ruit (father) and Kesang Ruit (mother)
- Specialization: Ophthalmology
- Known For: Developing small-incision cataract surgery
- Founded: Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Himalayan Cataract Project
- Spouse: Nanda Ruit
- Awards: Ramon Magsaysay Award (2006), Padma Shri (2018), Isa Award for Service to Humanity (2013), Asia Game Changer Award, and many more.
Early Life
Dr. Sanduk Ruit was born on September 4, 1954, in Olangchung Gola, a remote village in the mountainous region of Taplejung, Nepal. He was born into a modest family; his father, Sonam Ruit, was a trader, and his mother, Kesang Ruit, played a significant role in raising the family. Growing up in such a remote area, Dr. Ruit witnessed the lack of medical facilities and health services in his community. He lost his sister to tuberculosis at the age of 17, which deeply affected him and fueled his determination to pursue a career in medicine.
Education
Sanduk Ruit started school 15 days’ walk away from his home at St Robert’s School in Darjeeling at the age of seven. But he faced a very hard student life as a poor and alone. Then, he returned to Nepal and joined Siddhartha Vanasthali School in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Ruit’s medical journey began with pursuing a bachelor’s degree in medicine at the King George’s Medical College in Lucknow, India. His interest in ophthalmology developed during his studies, and he later specialized in the field by training at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi with a scholarship and achieved his Master’s Degree. After three years, in 1984, he returned to Nepal and worked for eight years in an eye hospital in Tripureshwor.
Ruit received further training in microsurgery in the Netherlands, and his career took a pivotal turn when he worked with the renowned Australian ophthalmologist Professor Fred Hollows in the 1980s. He also continued to study in the USA.
Career Beginnings
After completing his medical education and training, Dr. Ruit returned to Nepal with a mission to provide affordable eye care to the poorest communities. In a country where blindness due to cataracts was widespread, and eye care facilities were scarce, Dr. Ruit started performing surgeries using traditional methods. However, he quickly realized that the conventional techniques were too expensive and inaccessible for most people in the remote regions of Nepal and other developing countries.
Developing Small-Incision Cataract Surgery
Driven by his goal of making cataract surgery affordable and accessible, Dr. Ruit developed a new technique known as small-incision cataract surgery (SICS). This method required no sutures and could be performed in just a few minutes with minimal resources. He also pioneered the use of intraocular lenses (IOLs) that could be produced at a low cost. These lenses were essential for restoring vision after cataract surgery and significantly reduced the cost of the procedure, making it accessible to millions of people who could not afford conventional surgery.
This breakthrough allowed cataract surgery to be performed in remote areas where traditional surgeries were impossible due to a lack of infrastructure.
Challenges and Struggles
Dr. Ruit faced significant challenges in his early years of practice. His revolutionary methods were initially met with skepticism by the global medical community, and funding for his work was hard to come by. However, his persistence and dedication paid off as he continued to demonstrate the success of his low-cost, high-efficiency surgical technique.
He also faced logistical difficulties in reaching some of the most remote regions of Nepal, where people had no access to medical care. Often, he would trek for days to set up temporary eye camps in villages that were inaccessible by road. Despite these hurdles, Dr. Ruit’s resolve to eliminate preventable blindness never wavered.
Major Achievements and Contributions
Dr. Ruit’s contributions to global eye care have been groundbreaking. His work has helped over 180,000 people regain their sight, particularly in underdeveloped areas of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, North Korea, and other countries in Asia and Africa. His surgical technique is now taught worldwide, and numerous countries have adopted his model of low-cost cataract surgery to address blindness caused by cataracts.
In 1994, Dr. Ruit founded the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu, Nepal. The institute serves as a center of excellence for ophthalmology, providing training, research, and treatment to patients from Nepal and beyond. The institute also produces intraocular lenses at a fraction of the international cost, furthering Ruit’s mission to provide affordable eye care.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Ruit has received numerous national and international accolades for his work. Among the most notable:
- Ramon Magsaysay Award (2006) – Asia’s premier prize honoring selfless service and transformative leadership.
- Padma Shri (2018) – One of India’s highest civilian honors, awarded for his medical contributions.
- Isa Award for Service to Humanity (2013) – A prestigious international award recognizing his humanitarian efforts.
- National Order of Merit (2018) – Awarded by the Bhutanese government for his work in Bhutan.
- Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia: The Order of Australia is an Australian honor that recognizes Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service
- Asia Game Changer Award: The Asia Game Changer Award is an annual award connected to the Asian community that has positively contributed to the development and improvement of Asia and society.
- ISA Award for Service to Humanity
- Many More…
His dedication and tireless efforts have made him a global symbol of hope and inspiration.
Social Life and Philanthropy
Apart from his professional achievements, Dr. Ruit is deeply involved in philanthropic activities. Through the Himalayan Cataract Project, which he co-founded with Geoffrey Tabin, he has extended his services to thousands of people across Africa and Asia. The project continues to focus on bringing eye care to remote and underserved communities worldwide.
Personal and Family Life
Dr. Sanduk Ruit is married to Nanda Ruit, who has been a strong support system throughout his journey. They have three children together. Despite his international fame, Dr. Ruit remains humble and deeply connected to his roots in Nepal. He continues to travel to remote areas, providing free eye surgeries to the poor.
Legacy
Dr. Ruit’s legacy is not just in the countless individuals whose sight he has restored but also in the sustainable model of eye care he has created. His work has been transformative, setting a new standard for humanitarian medical service globally. His vision of a world where no one suffers from preventable blindness has brought hope and light to communities around the globe.
His life’s work continues to inspire future generations of doctors, social workers, and philanthropists to think beyond the traditional limits of medicine and serve humanity with compassion and innovation.
Summary
Dr. Sanduk Ruit is a beacon of hope in the world of ophthalmology and global healthcare. From his humble beginnings in the remote mountains of Nepal, he has risen to become one of the most respected doctors worldwide. Through his pioneering small-incision cataract surgery, he has restored sight to over 180,000 people, particularly in the poorest regions of the world. Dr. Ruit’s unwavering commitment to affordable and accessible healthcare has earned him a permanent place in the annals of medical history.
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