Eye Care Services

At least 2.2 billion people worldwide have near or distance vision impairment. Of these, at least 1 billion cases could have been prevented or remain unaddressed. Cataracts account for an estimated 94 million cases of distance vision impairment or blindness, while refractive errors affect another 88.4 million people. Additionally, 826 million people experience unaddressed near vision impairment due to presbyopia. Yet, one in two people who need cataract surgery globally do not have access to it. These figures highlight the urgent need for accessible, affordable and quality eye care.

Realising the huge unmet need in eye care, Dr. G. Venkataswamy, after retirement from Government service, started Aravind Eye Hospital in his hometown, Madurai, as an 11-bed facility.  Aravind provides the same high standard of care irrespective of a patient’s ability to pay. 50% of the patients receive services either free or at steeply subsidised rates. Outreach eye camps have been the cornerstone of Aravind’s high-volume work. Every year, Aravind conducts around 3,500 free eye screening camps in rural areas. These camps contribute about 30% to the total cataract surgeries performed at Aravind Eye Hospitals.

Today, the growing network of Aravind’s eye care facilities includes 8 tertiary centres, 8 secondary centres, 9 community eye clinics and 120 vision centres and eye bank. Aravind Eye Care System has also been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Blindness.

Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology

Understanding the need for developing eye care providers, Aravind established the Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, which is recognised by the Medical Council of India, National Board of Examinations, Royal College of Ophthalmology and affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University. Over the years, Aravind has increasingly refined its teaching facilities, course structure and methodologies to attract the best students.

Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology

Aravind established Asia’s first eye care management training and consultancy institute in 1992. Named Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, the institute shares best practices in eye care with eye hospitals all over the world and helps develop them to provide care in a sustainable manner.

Aurolab

Aravind’s manufacturing arm, Aurolab, manufactures high-quality ophthalmic consumables at a fraction of the cost charged by Western companies. Started as an intraocular lens manufacturing unit, today, Aurolab produces ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, suture needles, equipment, surgical blades and special products. Aurolab products are being exported to more than 160 countries.

Aravind Medical Research Foundation

Aravind Medical Research Foundation focuses on research in the eye and finds new ways to reduce the burden of blindness.