Best Retina Specialist in Mumbai — Dr. Jignesh Gala
A fellowship-trained retina & cataract surgeon for the whole of Mumbai — retinal detachment, diabetic retina, ROP, macular disease, cataract and laser surgery, from a 1-month-old baby to a 100-year-old patient, with seamless cashless insurance.
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Dr. Jignesh Gala · Crystal Clear Eye Clinic, Andheri WestIf you’re searching for the best retina specialist in Mumbai — or simply a trusted retina specialist near me — this guide introduces Dr. Jignesh Gala, a fellowship-trained vitreoretinal and cataract surgeon, FRCS (Glasgow), with 25,780+ procedures performed. He practises at Crystal Clear Eye Clinic on SV Road, Andheri West — centrally placed for the entire city, from the western suburbs to South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane — and offers seamless cashless eye surgery. This page covers the conditions he treats, every eye surgery he performs, how diagnosis works, and the complete cashless process at Laram Centre, SV Road, Andheri West.
- Who: Dr. Jignesh Gala — FRCS (Glasgow), L V Prasad fellowship, founder of Crystal Clear Eye Clinic & co-founder of Topax Eye Care; 25,780+ procedures, 1,62,000+ patients.
- What: retinal detachment, diabetic retina, macular degeneration, ROP, cataract & laser surgery — newborn to 100.
- Cashless: 30+ TPA/insurer tie-ups — direct (network) cashless via Topax Eye Care, third-party (TPA) cashless via Crystal Clear Eye Clinic.
- Where: Laram Centre, SV Road, Andheri West, Mumbai — central for the whole city. Call +91 77188 85245.
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Who is Dr. Jignesh Gala?
Dr. Jignesh Gala is a fellowship-trained vitreoretinal and cataract surgeon, the founder of Crystal Clear Eye Clinic (Andheri West) and co-founder of Topax Eye Care. He leads with credentials few eye surgeons in Mumbai can match — FRCS (Glasgow) and over 25,780 eye procedures performed, across India, Singapore and the UK.
His qualifications include MBBS (Grant Medical College & Sir J.J. Hospital, Mumbai), DOMS (Seth G.S. Medical College & KEM Hospital), a coveted dual fellowship at L V Prasad Eye Institute (Comprehensive Ophthalmology, then Medical & Surgical Retina), and the international qualifications MRCS (Edinburgh) and FICO (London). He is a Life Member of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) and the Vitreo Retinal Society of India (VRSI), and a peer reviewer for BMJ Case Reports. Consultations are offered in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi.
The doctor who examines you also performs your surgery and follows you up — no rotating juniors and no hand-offs. For delicate, time-sensitive eye conditions, that continuity matters. Read his full profile and credentials or his background on drjigneshgalaeye.com.
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What a retina specialist does — and why it matters
A retina specialist is an ophthalmologist with extra fellowship training in diseases of the retina, macula and vitreous — the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye and the gel that fills it. These conditions are often delicate, time-sensitive and sight-threatening, so specialist training and the right technology genuinely change outcomes.
Just as importantly, retina care moves fast. Dr. Gala is committed to evidence-based, up-to-date practice, staying current with the latest peer-reviewed research (see the research section below) so that every recommendation reflects the best available evidence — and is explained to you in plain language. Learn more about retina treatment in Andheri.
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When should you see a retina specialist?
Some eye symptoms are emergencies. Seek an examination the same day — wherever you are in Mumbai — if you notice any of these, especially suddenly:
- A sudden burst of flashes or a shower of new floaters
- A dark curtain or shadow spreading across your vision
- Sudden blurring or loss of central vision
- Straight lines looking wavy (a macular warning sign)
- Blurred vision with diabetes, or new floaters and bleeding
A retinal detachment is an emergency — every hour the macula stays detached lowers the chance of recovering sharp vision. Same-day urgent slots are kept for exactly this. People travel to the SV Road clinic from across Mumbai — Andheri, Bandra, Juhu, Goregaon, Powai, Dadar and beyond. Call +91 77188 85245 and book an appointment.
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Advanced diagnosis at Crystal Clear Eye Clinic
Accurate diagnosis is quick, painless and usually completed in a single visit: consultation → dilated retinal examination → targeted scans → diagnosis and plan.
The clinic uses modern retinal imaging and diagnostics including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT & OCT-Angiography), which shows the macula in microns; biometry and auto-refraction for surgical planning; dilated indirect examination to map the whole retina; B-scan ultrasonography when blood blocks the view; and fundus photography and angiography.
Because these are under one roof, even an emergency like a retinal detachment can be diagnosed and a surgical plan made in a single visit — critical when time is the enemy. Explore the full range of vitreoretinal & medical retina services.
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Eye surgeries Dr. Gala performs — from a newborn to 100
A complete eye practice must care for every age and every layer of the eye. Here is the range Dr. Gala offers.
Retinal detachment surgery
Depending on the eye, the right operation may be micro-incision vitrectomy, a scleral buckle (a soft silicone band placed outside the eye), or pneumatic retinopexy (a gas bubble for selected cases), followed by a gas or silicone-oil tamponade. Read the complete retinal-detachment guide.
Diabetic retinopathy & macular treatment
From retina laser and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections to vitrectomy for advanced bleeding or tractional detachment — with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated by injections, steroids and laser. See diabetic retinopathy care.
Macular degeneration (ARMD)
Wet AMD is treated with anti-VEGF injections; dry AMD with monitoring, AREDS2-style supplements and lifestyle measures — guided by OCT.
Lasers — barrage, retina & YAG
Barrage laser seals a retinal tear before it detaches; focal/grid and pan-retinal laser treat diabetic and vascular disease; and YAG laser clears posterior capsule clouding after cataract surgery — all quick, in-clinic procedures.
Cataract surgery
Modern micro-incision phacoemulsification with a choice of monofocal, toric and premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) — a day-care procedure that restores clarity, including for seniors in their 80s and 90s. Learn about laser cataract surgery.
ROP care for premature babies
Babies born early can develop retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Trained in ROP at L V Prasad under Dr. Subhadra Jalali, Dr. Gala provides screening, laser, anti-VEGF and surgery, with 300+ ROP procedures performed. NICU and paediatrician referrals from across Mumbai are welcomed.
The same eye — and the same surgeon — can need very different operations at different ages: a barrage laser to prevent a detachment in a young myope, anti-VEGF injections for a diabetic adult, and gentle phaco cataract surgery for a senior. Matching the procedure precisely to your eye is what specialist, evidence-based care is about.
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Why patients across Mumbai choose us
- Specialist expertise: a dedicated L V Prasad retina fellowship and 25,780+ procedures.
- Full range under one roof: retina, cataract, lasers and injections.
- One surgeon, start to finish — continuity from diagnosis through recovery.
- Seamless cashless & EMI: 30+ TPA/insurer tie-ups across two centres.
- Central & accessible: SV Road, Andheri West — two minutes from the station, near the metro, easy from the whole city.
- Your language: English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi.
Committed to the latest research
Evidence-based practice means staying current with the best available data. The peer-reviewed, PubMed-indexed sources below inform modern retina care and are shared here for transparency and further reading:
Updates on Treatment Modalities for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair NCBI Bookshelf · StatPearls (NIH)
Scleral Buckling — principles, indications & technique PMC · 2024 · Systematic Review
Prognostic Factors for Visual Outcome after Vitrectomy in Retinal Detachment PMC · 2024 · Review
Diabetic Macular Edema Management: Anti-VEGF Therapies PubMed · Cochrane, 2023 · Review
Anti-VEGF with Vitrectomy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy PMC · 2024 · Review
Guideline Recommendations for Anti-VEGF Therapy in AMD PMC · NIH
Nutritional Supplements for AMD (AREDS / AREDS2) PMC · NIH · Review
A Review of Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity
External links open peer-reviewed articles on the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed / PMC) and are for education, not a substitute for consultation.
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What to expect before, during & after surgery
- BeforeExamination and scans, a clear explanation of your diagnosis and the recommended procedure, basic fitness checks, and an itemised, transparent cost estimate — with cashless pre-authorisation started if you’re insured.
- DuringMost eye surgery is done under local anaesthesia (you’re awake but feel no pain), often as day-care, typically taking 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the operation.
- AfterEye drops, any positioning advice (for gas/oil cases), and structured follow-up. Vision recovers gradually; you’ll be told when it’s safe to fly, drive and return to work.
✓ Do
- Use eye drops exactly as prescribed
- Attend every follow-up visit
- Control blood sugar & blood pressure
- Keep your insurance documents handy
- Report new pain or vision drop at once
✕ Don’t
- Rub or press the operated eye
- Fly while a gas bubble is in the eye
- Skip drops once vision feels better
- Delay care for sudden symptoms
- Lift heavy weights until cleared
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Cashless eye surgery made simple — the full process
Most eye surgery — retinal detachment, diabetic eye disease, cataract — is medically necessary and covered by health and Mediclaim policies. The clinic makes cashless straightforward, with 30+ TPA and insurer tie-ups and EMI options, and a team that handles the paperwork for you.
Direct (network) cashless — where a centre has a direct tie-up with your insurer — is handled through Topax Eye Care. Third-party (TPA-administered) cashless is processed through Crystal Clear Eye Clinic. Whichever applies to your policy, you’re covered, and the team guides you to the right route. More on cashless eye surgery in Mumbai →
How the cashless process works, step by step
- Consultation & diagnosisYour eye is examined and the surgery is confirmed with the necessary scans and reports.
- Insurance check & routeThe team verifies your policy, identifies your insurer/TPA, and selects the correct cashless route (direct via Topax Eye Care or TPA via Crystal Clear Eye Clinic).
- Pre-authorisation requestA pre-authorisation form, the doctor’s recommendation and supporting reports are submitted to your insurer or TPA.
- ApprovalThe insurer/TPA reviews and issues an approval letter for the covered amount (planned cases usually within a day or two; emergencies are expedited).
- Surgery & admissionYour procedure is scheduled; you complete admission with your approved cashless cover in place.
- Final settlementThe hospital bills the insurer/TPA directly for the approved amount; you pay only any non-covered items (e.g. certain lens upgrades or co-pay).
Documents you’ll need for cashless
- Health insurance policy copy + e-card
- Insurance / TPA ID number
- Government photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN) for KYC
- Doctor’s surgery recommendation note
- Diagnostic reports supporting the diagnosis
- Signed pre-authorisation form
- Previous eye records, if any
- Referral letter (if your plan requires one)
Indicative coverage by procedure (2026)
These are broad market ranges, not a guaranteed payout — your limit depends on your policy. Since 2024, IRDAI requires insurers to give you a one-page Customer Information Sheet listing your sub-limits.
| Procedure | Typical insurer payout (indicative, 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retinal detachment / vitrectomy | ₹30,000 – ₹70,000+ | Complex/oil cases higher |
| Intravitreal anti-VEGF injection | Driven by the drug chosen | Coverage varies by policy |
| Retina / barrage laser | ₹10,000 – ₹25,000 | Often day-care |
| Cataract surgery (standard lens) | Sub-limit often ₹20,000 – ₹50,000/eye | Waiting period typically applies |
| Premium IOL upgrade | Usually part patient-paid | Treated as an elective upgrade |
Watch the room-rent trap: choosing a room above your eligible category can trigger a proportionate deduction across your whole bill. Insurance figures are general 2026 market information, not financial advice — confirm with your insurer.
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Patient stories from across Mumbai
Representative scenarios; identifying details changed for privacy.
A grey curtain over one eye on a weekend — seen the same day, diagnosed with a macula-on retinal detachment and operated promptly, with cashless approved before surgery.
Long-standing diabetic with blurring and floaters; proliferative diabetic retinopathy managed with laser and injections, vision stabilised, with a clear monitoring plan.
Screened for ROP on the recommended schedule and treated in time — early intervention that protects a child’s sight for life.
Patients travel from across Mumbai — Andheri, Bandra, Juhu, Vile Parle, Santacruz, Goregaon, Malad, Borivali, Powai, Ghatkopar, Dadar, South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane — for retina and cataract care.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the best retina specialist in Mumbai?
How do I find a retina specialist near me in Mumbai?
Is cashless eye surgery available?
What eye surgeries does Dr. Gala perform?
Which documents are needed for cashless surgery?
Does Dr. Gala speak Gujarati and Marathi?
People also ask
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How to book an appointment with Dr. Jignesh Gala
See a leading retina specialist today
For flashes, floaters, a shadow over your vision, diabetic eye checks, cataract, or a second opinion on retina surgery — book with Dr. Jignesh Gala. Same-day slots for emergencies, with cashless support. Second opinions welcome — bring your reports.
Helpful links
- Retina treatment in Andheri · Diabetic retinopathy · About Dr. Gala
- Cashless eye surgery in Mumbai · Laser cataract surgery · Contact
- Retina surgery guide (drjigneshgalaeye.com)
- Authoritative info: American Academy of Ophthalmology · National Eye Institute (NIH) · Vitreo Retinal Society of India
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general education and is not a substitute for a personal consultation. Eye emergencies — sudden vision loss, flashes, a curtain over vision or severe pain — need immediate care. Outcomes vary between patients; no specific result is guaranteed.
