Dr Sanduk Ruit, eminent ophthalmologist and eye surgeon has been conferred an Honorary Doctor of Science degree by UK’s Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in recognition of his humanitarian work. Focusing on the developing world, Dr  Ruit has dedicated over three decades of his life saving or restoring the sight of over 150,000 people – and counting.  He has been affectionately nicknamed “God of Sight” for his efforts to take quality eye care to the community – mostly communities living in poverty who are unable to access or afford eye surgery.

Dr Ruit is the founder and the Executive Director of the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, a centre for eye excellence in Nepal. He is also the co-founder of the Himalayan Cataract Project, an organisation which focuses in curing needless blindness with the highest quality care at the lowest cost. In 2021, he partnered with UK based investor/philanthropist Mr Tej Kohli to form the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation to screen one million, and cure half a million of needless blindness by 2030.

Dr Ruit continues to take his model of outreach camps to remote parts of Nepal, and the developing world. Halfway into 2023, he has led five camps – curing blindness in Terhathum & Taplejung Districts in February, Koforidua, Ghana in March, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia in April, Pullahari Monastery, Kathmandu in May, and Mustang District in June – just before leaving for the UK.

Along with Dr Ruit, ARU also honored Cambridge-based tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Cowley who received the award of Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, and Dr David Cleevely CBE with the award of Honorary Doctor of Technology.