Association for  the prevention of blindness, UP, Kanpur was started in 1946t Dr. Rajendra Rohatgi & eminent persons from Kanpur, Civil society to ameliorate the curse of blindness. The main focus was to hold eye camps in rural areas & perform an intra capsular cataract extraction. Thousands of operations were successfully in Kanpur& surrounding districts. This parent association later established a Hospital& other institutions. 

Dr. Jawaharlal Rohatgi Memorial Eye Hospital was started in 1958 as a272 bedded Eye Hospital covering all Sub specialities of Ophthalmology. Hundreds of thousands of patients have been operated for cataract, Glaucoma Squint Retinal Detachments, Pterygium etc. About 6000 cataract operations are performed every year. All sub-specialities of Ophthalmology are available in the Hospital.

Teaching Training: The Hospital is accredited by the National Board of Examinations for training MBBS Doctors for the 3 years DNB Degree in Ophthalmology. The final exam is conducted by the National Board of Examinations. The hospital is also approved by the UP State Medical Faculty for training Optometrists in a 2 year Diploma course.

Ophthalmologists: The Hospital has 5 full time Ophthalmologists working at the Hospital.