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Medical retina specialist · Varanasi

Best retina specialist in Varanasi

Retinal disease is medical, not surgical, in over 90% of cases — the right specialist runs a clinic built around OCT-guided diagnostics, injection scheduling and long-term monitoring, not an OT. Dr. Shantanu Kumar Gupta trained in medical retina at Guru Nanak Eye Centre, New Delhi, and now runs Purvanchal's most complete retina practice.

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Reviewed by Dr. Shantanu Kumar Gupta

Why patients choose us for this care

OCT-guided decision-making, always

No blind injections. Every anti-VEGF decision is anchored to an OCT scan showing fluid activity — the same protocol used at LVPEI, Sankara Nethralaya and Aravind.

4,200+ intravitreal injections

High injection volume translates to lower endophthalmitis rates (< 0.03% at our clinic vs 0.09% national average). Sterile technique matters and it comes from repetition.

Full retinal drug portfolio

Bevacizumab (Avastin), Ranibizumab (Lucentis, Razumab), Aflibercept (Eylea), Faricimab (Vabysmo) — matched to insurance and dosing needs.

PRP + Focal laser in-house

Pan-retinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, focal laser for macular oedema — no external referral needed.

Structured DR screening for Purvanchal diabetics

We run bulk DR screening days for local physicians in Chandauli, Ghazipur, Mirzapur — early detection saves the majority of preventable diabetic blindness.

Services & pages related to this specialty

Medical retina services
OCT, anti-VEGF, PRP
Diabetic retinopathy treatment
Screening, laser, injections
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Dry & wet AMD, treat-and-extend protocols
Retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
BRVO/CRVO with macular oedema
About intravitreal injections
Procedure explained, safety, aftercare

Credentials — Dr. Shantanu Kumar Gupta

MBBS
Base medical training
MS Ophthalmology
MAMC / Guru Nanak Eye Centre, New Delhi
DNB (Ophthalmology)
National Board
Medical retina training
Guru Nanak Eye Centre — high-volume retina unit
FICO (Merit)
International Council of Ophthalmology fellowship

Real (anonymised) case scenarios from our clinic

The 55-year-old type-2 diabetic (HbA1c 9.4%) referred by her physician in Jaunpur

Fundus revealed severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy with clinically significant macular oedema. Loaded with 3 monthly ranibizumab injections + focal laser. OCT-CST reduced from 480 µm to 260 µm; vision 6/60 → 6/12.

The 72-year-old woman with sudden central blur, right eye

OCT confirmed sub-retinal fluid with a small PED — classic wet AMD. Bevacizumab loading × 3, subsequent treat-and-extend to 8-weekly. Reading vision preserved.

The 68-year-old post-cataract patient with 'floaters'

Detailed fundus + indirect exam ruled out retinal tears, confirmed benign posterior vitreous detachment. Reassurance + red-flag briefing sent home.

You should consult if you have any of these

  • Type 1 diabetic > 5 years, or type 2 diabetic at diagnosis
  • Sudden central blur, distortion of straight lines (metamorphopsia)
  • Flashes of light or a sudden shower of floaters
  • Dark curtain descending across vision
  • Family history of AMD > 55 years
  • Hypertension + sudden painless vision loss in one eye

What a consultation actually looks like

  1. 1
    Vision + IOP + slit-lamp
    Standard eye exam base.
  2. 2
    Dilated indirect fundus examination
    Retina periphery + macula in stereo.
  3. 3
    OCT + OCT-A
    Cross-section of the macula & choroidal circulation. 5-minute non-invasive scan.
  4. 4
    FFA (if indicated)
    Fluorescein angiography — done in-house when neovascularisation is suspected.
  5. 5
    Treatment plan + written estimate
    Injections, laser or observation — with schedule and cost in writing.

Frequently asked questions

How often will I need anti-VEGF injections?
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Most patients follow a treat-and-extend protocol — 3 monthly loading injections, then extending intervals to 6, 8 and 12 weeks as the OCT stabilises. Long-term, many patients are stable on 8-weekly injections.
Which anti-VEGF drug is best?
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There is no single 'best' — the choice depends on disease type, duration wanted between injections, insurance coverage and prior response. We routinely use bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept and faricimab. See our /expertise/retina-injections page.
Is anti-VEGF injection painful?
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No. The eye is thoroughly numbed with topical + subconjunctival anaesthetic. Most patients describe a brief pressure sensation lasting under 3 seconds.
Can diabetic retinopathy be reversed?
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Non-proliferative changes can improve significantly with tight glycaemic control. Proliferative changes (new vessels) require laser and/or injections and generally do not fully reverse — but progression to blindness is preventable in > 90% of cases with timely treatment.
How is my macular oedema OCT scan interpreted?
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We look at three markers: central sub-field thickness (CST), presence and location of intra-retinal fluid, and integrity of the outer retinal bands. All three go into treatment intensity decisions.

Ready to book?

Same-week appointments are common. Bring your previous reports, medications and glasses to the visit.

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Medical disclaimer

This article is for patient education. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, examination or diagnosis. If you have symptoms discussed here, please book an in-person consultation with a qualified ophthalmologist.