Eye-Q Took the Road Away From Metros. Is It Paying Off?
By Arunima Rajan
When Rajat Goel left a high-flying corporate career to start a chain of eye hospitals in small-town India, the move didn’t quite follow the usual playbook. An IIM Ahmedabad graduate with years at Godrej and Bausch & Lomb, Goel had the kind of resume that typically leads to boardroom roles, not day-to-day problem-solving in tier-two towns. But in 2007, alongside ophthalmologist Dr. Ajay Sharma, he set out to prove that quality eye care should not be a privilege reserved for metro cities. Today, Eye-Q Super Speciality Eye Hospitals operates in more than 30 locations across India and Nigeria. In this interview, Goel reflects on what it means to build trust in underserved markets, the quiet power of consistency, and why healthcare’s next big opportunity lies in going small.
Why did you choose to build in eye care, of all sectors? Was there a moment that made it personal for you?
The decision to build in eye care was driven by a compelling gap I witnessed firsthand millions of people in India, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, were going blind from conditions that were entirely preventable or treatable. What made it personal was seeing lives derailed due to lack of timely care. That pushed me to create Eye-Q with a vision to democratize high-quality, ethical, and affordable eye treatment across underserved regions.
With so many people in India struggling with vision problems, what gap did you see that convinced you EyeQ could make a real difference?
I saw that while India had excellent eye surgeons and medical technology, access to quality care was severely skewed toward metros. In smaller towns, people often lived with preventable blindness due to poor infrastructure, lack of specialists, or high costs. Eye-Q was built to bridge this gap by bringing super-speciality eye hospitals, standardized protocols, and ethical care directly to these communities, ensuring no one is left behind due to geography or affordability.
How did you figure out a model that works — not just on paper, but in the real world, with real patients and real constraints?
To create a model that actually works, we really had to understand what patients need and what challenges exist on the ground. We focused on making quality eye care affordable and consistent by training skilled teams and standardizing processes. Listening to patient feedback helped us adapt and improve. Using smart technology and strong partnerships, we built a system that’s practical, efficient, and truly meets people’s needs across India.
Running a healthcare business is not easy. How do you make it financially viable while still keeping services affordable and accessible?
When we set out, our goal was to create a sustainable model that balances quality care with affordability. We achieve this by optimizing operations through technology and standardized processes, which lower costs without compromising service. Partnering with trusted suppliers and training skilled teams also helps us maintain efficiency. Expanding our network helps us reach more patients and benefit from economies of scale, making eye care accessible while ensuring the business remains financially viable and continues to grow responsibly.
Everyone says their tech is game-changing. What does EyeQ’s technology actually do for the people on the ground?
We have incorporated advanced technologies like FDA, NASA-approved Blade Free I-LASIK and SILK by Johnson & Johnson, enabling us to provide safer and more precise treatments that were once out of reach for many. Having conducted over 1 crore eye exams and 6 lakh surgeries, our technology ensures faster recovery and better outcomes, making high-quality eye care accessible to people even in semi-urban and rural areas.
Reaching remote parts of India is critical, but complicated. What have you learned about making healthcare truly accessible, even in the toughest places?
We’ve learned that making healthcare truly accessible means building trust first and infrastructure second. We invest in training local talent, setting up hospitals where they’re needed most, and using mobile diagnostic units to reach underserved populations. Community outreach, partnerships with local NGOs, and patient education help bridge the last-mile gap, ensuring that even in the remotest parts of India, quality eye care is not a privilege but a right.
Good healthcare needs good people. How do you find and keep a team that believes in the mission and doesn’t burn out?
We focus on building a mission-driven culture where every team member understands the impact of their work on real lives. From day one, we invest in training, mentorship, and career growth, creating a sense of purpose and belonging. We also emphasize work-life balance and emotional well-being, because healthcare isn’t just about patients—it’s about the caregivers too. This keeps our dedicated teams of 579 motivated, committed, and deeply aligned with EyeQ’s mission.
Was there a turning point, a milestone or challenge , that changed how you think about the work you’re doing?
One major turning point was when we expanded to smaller towns and saw firsthand how our presence transformed lives—patients who had lived for years with preventable blindness finally receiving care. It made us realize the scale of need and reinforced our belief that quality eye care shouldn’t be a privilege. That moment shifted our mindset from growth to responsibility, and it continues to shape every decision we make at EyeQ.
As India’s healthcare system evolves, what role do you see EyeQ playing five years from now?
Our immediate goal is to perform 80,000 surgeries and conduct 600,000 eye screenings by the end of 2025. Looking ahead five years, we plan to expand EyeQ’s presence across India and beyond by opening more specialized centers with advanced technology while keeping care affordable. We will strengthen our team through ongoing training and partnerships, deepen community outreach, and work to make quality eye care accessible to all, reducing avoidable blindness nationwide.
And for you personally — what does success look like? When do you think you’ll be able to say, “Yes, this was worth it”?
Success for me means seeing a tangible impact in people’s lives through improved vision and quality of life. When millions can access affordable, world-class eye care without barriers, I will know our efforts were worth it. It’s about creating a lasting legacy where EyeQ is synonymous with trust, innovation, and compassion, transforming eye health across communities for generations to come.
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