This eye hospital started in1892 with the capacity of 24 beds only. Till 1933, the hospital was managed by municipal board of Allahabad and then it was taken by the state Government. after establishment of the Medical College Allahabad in 1961, the Department of ophthalmology was established here and Dr. D.B Chandra the then superintendent of the hospital was appointed as reader and the first head of the department. The department was upgraded as state institute of ophthalmology in 1976 and the then head, Prof. D.B Chandra was appointed as the first Director of the institute. later on Prof. Devendra Srivastava, Prof. R. N. Mishra, Prof. Vipin Bihari reshaped the institute as directors. In 2006 the institute was further upgraded as regional institute of ophthalmology with the sincere effort of the present Director, professor and principal, Dr.S.P. Singh. The institute now has a capacity of 108 beds (2 male and 1 female wards) and 8 private wards. It is equipped with 2 fully air conditioned advanced operation theatres and one rural O.T. The institute has its own recognition as tertiary eye care centre having specialized, glaucoma, cornea including keratoplasty, medical retina, pediatric ophthalmology, squint & orthoptic, lacrimal, uvea, contact lens & IOL ( Intra Ocular lens) clinics. All latest surgeries in ophthalmology including SICS ( Small Incision Cataract Surgery) and phacoemulsification are being carried out in the institute.