Over the last 27 years, over one million patients have been treated from all over India and countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Oman, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia. Nearly 275,000 surgeries have been performed. About one third of the surgeries have been done free of charge to the poor.

Sankara Nethralaya is a recognized academic institution, conducting Graduate, Postgraduate, Research, Fellowship and Continuing Medical Education Programs. It also publishes books to share scientific practice in eye care. One third of all Opthalmic Research Publications from India come from Sankara Nethralaya. Major, multi-year epidemiological research projects in Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy are currently being carried out by Sankara Nethralaya. Sankara Nethralaya also has collaborations with academic and research institutions around the world.

Sankara Nethralaya has the following departments and sub-specialties:

* Ophthalmology: Cornea, Oculoplasty, Retina, Glaucoma, Uvea, Pediatrics, Squint, Refractive Surgery, Neuro-ophthalmology, Cataract and Community Ophthalmology, Ultrasonography, Electrodiagnostics and Angiography.
* Optometry: Contact Lens, Low Vision Aids, Orthoptics, Perimetry, Electro diagnostics, OCT / HRT, Special Clinic for Computer Users, Corporate Vision Examination Program, Ocular Prosthesis

While the eye care service delivery accessible to all sections of the society is the area of focus of Sankara Nethralaya, the back-up for eye-care delivery comes from the constant innovative development undertaken by yet another arm of the group "Vision Research Foundation".