According to him, before the COVID-19 pandemic, patients from 38 countries sought treatment at the center, which performed around 3,000 surgeries annually.

In 2025, the top five countries by the number of foreign patients included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

About half of the Kyrgyz patients remained at the clinic for treatment after undergoing diagnostic examinations.

Valery Chernykh noted that patients from Kyrgyzstan seek care for serious conditions, including retinal detachment and post-traumatic eye problems.

The Novosibirsk branch of the ISTC Eye Microsurgery has nine departments.

The medical center’s distinctive feature is its ability to handle large numbers of patients. In 2025, about 50,000 surgeries were performed there, with 80 percent classified as high-complexity surgical procedures.

The clinic’s main facility sees up to 600 patients of all ages daily and performs up to 300 surgeries, while providing diagnosis and treatment for the full range of ophthalmological diseases. The staff numbers more than 400 people, including 90 doctors.

The medical center also successfully operates a doctor-to-doctor telemedicine project, which allows specialists to hold consultations to determine whether treatment is possible. Ophthalmologists from different regions of Russia regularly seek expert consultations from specialists at the Novosibirsk branch of the ISTC.

The center also offers so-called «live surgery,» allowing unique surgical procedures to be broadcast in real time. The technology is also used for research and educational purposes.

Valery Chernykh added that doctors from Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries come to the clinic for internships.