Aravind Eye Hospitals proudly celebrated International Women’s Day, honouring the remarkable contributions of its women stakeholders, including leaders, doctors, MLOPs, and other staff, whose excellence, compassion, and vision continue to strengthen healthcare and beyond. With women comprising 80% of its workforce and leading several key departments, Aravind makes a progressive march in both eliminating needless blindness and empowering women.

A proof to this dedication is the Mega Women Lifetime Achievement Award 2025, presented to Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), at the International Women’s Day Programme hosted by MEGA TV Channel, recognising her outstanding contributions to society. Additionally, Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services at Aravind-Chennai, was honoured by R.N. Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu, for her distinguished service in ophthalmology at a Women’s Day event held at Raj Bhavan, Chennai – a reflection of the remarkable achievements of women at Aravind.

Moreover, Aravind continues to recognise and encourage innovation across its workforce. To support this, the Aravind Inspiring Innovator Award (AIIA) 2025 was presented to the best innovators from across the organisation, along with cash prizes to foster creativity and progress in eye care.

Additionally, the success of several doctors at Aravind in clearing the Fellowship of the All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) exam 2024 further adds to this month’s celebrations of excellence and achievement.

This edition features these and many more inspiring updates from 15^th February to 15^th March 2025.

Madurai, 28^th February – 1^st March 2025

Sneha, Junior Research Scholar, Department of Immunology and Stem Cell Biology, Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF), won the First Prize in Oral Presentation at the 6^th International Conference on Genome Biology (ICGB): Cell – Organism – Environment & the 56^th Aqua-Terr Annual Day, organised by the School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai.

Title: MiRNAs associated with the maintenance of human trabecular meshwork stem cells: Changes with ageing and in glaucoma

Chennai, 8^th March 2025

Dr. Haripriya Aravind was felicitated by Thiru R.N. Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu, with a citation and a shawl, for her distinguished services in Ophthalmology on the eve of International Women’s Day at Raj Bhavan, Chennai.

Chennai, 8^th March 2025

Dr. G. Natchiar was honoured with the Mega Women Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 for academic, management, service excellence, and outstanding contribution to women empowerment, at the International Women’s Day Programme hosted by the MEGA TV Channel. The award was presented by K.V. Thangkabalu, Former Member of the Lok Sabha of India & Founder of Mega TV, along with Dr. Jeyanthi Thangabalu, Managing Director, Mega TV, Chennai.

Washington, 1^st March 2025

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, was honoured with the AGS 2025 International Scholar Award by the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) at their Annual Meeting held at Washington, D.C.

Dr. Sameer Chaudhary, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, won the Runner-up Prize at the APAO-APOIS Imaging Competition, organised by the Asia Pacific Ocular Imaging Society (APOIS), on the theme, “Imaging the Eye: Helping the World to See.”

As part of this achievement, Dr. Sameer has been awarded a complimentary badge to participate in the 40^th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress, to be held from 3-6 April 2025, along with a cash prize of US$50 and a certificate, which will be presented during the award ceremony.

Title: The lens on life: Bending the rays of sight and hope

Aravind-Pondicherry, 22^nd February 2025

The Aravind Centre for Eyecare Innovation (ACEi) organised the 4^th annual Aravind Inspiring Innovator Award (AIIA) 2025 contest at Aravind-Pondicherry, recognising the innovative contributions of Aravind staff, including doctors, postgraduates, supporting staff, IT staff, and MLOPs. The first prize was awarded to Sterilux, developed by Dr. Ojus Bhanot, Dr. Nandita Manjunath, and Dr. Rohan Arora. The second prize was shared by EYEMOUNT 360, created by Dr. Aravind Krishna, Dr. Smrithi Sony Thampi, and Dr. Athul Puthalath, and ASTRA-90, developed by Dr. Vedant Sharma, Dr. Eshwar Rajesh, Dr. Athul Puthalath, Dr. Divisha Mehta, and Dr. Samarth Kacker. The third prize was awarded to two innovations: Percepto CVI by Dr. Sahithya Bhaskaran, and Harini Kannan, and Glaucometer by Dr. Nishwath and Dr. Priyankaa. The prize amounts, sponsored by ACEi, included Rs. 50,000 for the first prize, Rs. 30,000 for the second prize, and Rs. 20,000 for the third prize. The winners were honoured during Aravind-Pondicherry Hospital Day by Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, AECS, and Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Aravind-Pondicherry.

Several doctors from across Aravind have cleared the Fellowship of the All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) exam 2024, conducted by the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS).

Aravind-Madurai

FAICO (Retina): Dr. Swikruti Jena, Dr. Subhodeep Thakur, Dr. Rasiga R, Dr. Keya Chakrabarti, Dr. Chakpram Priyalaxmi, Dr. Vignesh Elamurugan, Dr. Preethi S, and Dr. Tanya Balakrishnan
FAICO (Glaucoma): Dr. Indira Durai, Dr. Ann Mary Mathews, and Dr. Kumar Siddharth
FAICO (Paediatric): Dr. Elackiya, and Dr. Nithya Sridharan

Aravind-Tirunelveli

FAICO (Retina): Dr. P R Aswin
FAICO (Glaucoma): Dr. Shivam Gupta
FAICO (Paediatric): Dr. Anupama Janardhanan

Aravind-Pondicherry

FAICO (Retina): Dr. Usha Tejeswini S, and Dr. Devika Bhattacharya Mandlik

Aravind-Coimbatore

FAICO (Cornea): Dr. Bennet Chacko Mathew
FAICO (Orbit): Dr. Padmapriya, and Dr. Renu Bansal
FAICO (IOL): Dr. Fayisa Musthafa
FAICO (UVEA): Dr. Meera Mohankumar
FAICO (Paediatric): Dr. Sasikala Elizabeth Anilkumar

Aravind-Chennai

FAICO (Glaucoma): Dr. Yamini K

Aravind-Tiruptai

FAICO (Retina): Dr. Kunduru Sruthi

Aravind, 9-16 March 2025

As part of Glaucoma Awareness Week, various events were organised across Aravind to educate both patients and healthcare professionals about glaucoma, a silent but serious eye disease.

Aravind-Tirupati

An exhibition was organised to raise awareness among OP patients through informative posters on glaucoma. MLOPs engaged with visitors, addressing their queries and encouraging them to undergo glaucoma screenings. The District Medical and Health Officer attended the event and delivered a speech on glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, a family screening was conducted for glaucoma patients to ensure early detection and preventive care.

Aravind-Salem

Aravind-Salem organised an informative exhibition on glaucoma, featuring charts and images, displaying in the hospital’s MRD attenders’ waiting area. A video presentation, prepared by doctors in both English and Tamil, further spread awareness about glaucoma. To extend outreach efforts, a human chain awareness event was organised from the hospital location to Kondalampatti. The event was flagged off by Praveen Kumar Abhinapu, I.P.S., Salem District Commissioner of Police, in the presence of Dr. Manohar Babu B., CMO, Aravind-Salem, along with Glaucoma Consultants, Dr. G. Megha, Dr. Peethala Maheswari, and Dr. M. Arjun Shenoy. The event saw active participation from hospital employees and students from Dharan Nursing College. Additionally, a glaucoma screening camp was conducted at Salem Steel Plant, further stressed the importance of early detection and treatment.

Aravind-Tirunelveli

As part of World Glaucoma Week observance, at Aravind-Tirunelveli, various events including a press meet, human chain campaign, awareness rally, radio talk, glaucoma screening camps, drawing and Rangoli contests, and awareness session were conducted.
The human chain campaign was organised in front of the hospital, inaugurated by S. Muthu Kumar, District Science Officer, Tirunelveli and Dr. Mohamed Abubucker, President, IMA Tirunelveli Branch. Additionally, a glaucoma awareness exhibition was set up in the hospital’s reception area and inaugurated by S. Muthu Kumar.
In addition, an awareness rally from Traveller Bungalow to St. Joseph School was organised at Aravind-Kovilpatti, flagged off by Jeganathan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kovilpatti.

Aravind-Madurai

Aravind-Madurai organised various events, including a glaucoma awareness exhibition, a debate, and a radio talk, to commemorate World Glaucoma Week. The exhibition featured informative posters to educate the public. A glaucoma week debate was held, chaired by Dr. G. Gnanasambandan, a popular orator. Additionally, Dr. Sharmila, Glaucoma Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, delivered a talk on glaucoma awareness via Akashvani FM. A Glaucoma Awareness booth was set up by a pharmaceutical company, where small plants were given to patients as part of the awareness initiative.

Aravind-Chennai

In observation of World Glaucoma Week, all medical officers, fellows, postgraduates, and MLOPs were given glaucoma week badges. Various interactive activities, including poster displays, quizzes, and competitions, were conducted. A quiz competition for patients was held, testing their understanding of glaucoma, with top scorers receiving potted plants as a token of appreciation. Additionally, a quiz competition for MLOPs was conducted to reinforce their critical role in glaucoma care. Further, a poster competition was held, judged by Dr. Neethu Mohan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Chennai, and Dr. V. Prasanna, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Chennai, with winners and the winning teams in both the quiz and poster competitions received prizes.

Aravind-Chennai, 5-9 March 2025

Aravind-Chennai conducted a five-day programme, Īkshana – Comprehensive Capsule for Postgraduates, Batch 2 (Phase 1 – Fundamental Course), at ARCORE, Chennai. A key highlight of the programme was an interactive session with Dr. G. Natchiar, who delivered a lecture on Neuro-Ophthalmology. The programme included two days of comprehensive ophthalmology lectures, and three days of surgical training featuring, classroom sessions, dry and wet lab sessions, hands-on practice for ocular investigations, and live surgery observation. A total of 22 postgraduate students from across India and Aravind Centres in Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Chennai participated in the programme.

Aravind-Madurai, 6^th March 2025

Aravind-Madurai organised a Fire safety hands-on training for all staff members, educating them on how to prevent, respond to, and reduce the risk of fire. The training was provided by members of Usha Fire Safety Equipments Pvt. Ltd.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 10^th March 2025

In its mission towards sight restoration, the Aravind Eye Bank Association of Pondicherry successfully inaugurated an Eye Collection Centre at Anbu Child Care Centre, Chinnasalem.

The occasion was graced by esteemed chief guests including, Dr. D. Manivannan from Radha Manivannan Hospital, Lavanya Jaiganesh, Chairman, Chinnasalem Town Panchayat, Ln. M. Saravanan, President, Lions Club of Chinnasalem, Ln. Dr. P. Thirugnasambandham, Vijayas Hospital, Ln. Dr. V. Vijayabhaskar, Bhaskaran Multispecialty Hospital, Ln. Dr. B.T. Alex Pandian, and Alex Dental Clinic, Chinnasalem. Members of the Lions Club of Chinnasalem were also present. The event was presided over by Dr. Loganathan, MD, Paediatrics, Dr. Aruna, MS, Ophthalmology, and Dr. Josephine Christy S., Director, Aravind Eye Bank Association, Pondicherry.

8^th March 2025

International Women’s Day was celebrated across all Aravind centres with various programmes and activities. Women employees actively participated in the events and competitions, truly embracing the spirit of the day.

Aravind-Tirupati

The celebration featured a speech competition and a dance performance by MLOPs. A key highlight was an interactive session with Dr. G. Natchiar, who delivered an inspiring speech on women empowerment.

Aravind-Chennai

A lively debate on “Women are Better Leaders in Difficult Situations – Yes or No” was held, with enthusiastic participation from hospital staff and an engaged audience of MLOPs.

Aravind-Pondicherry

A special programme, “Women in White Coats – Healing, Leading, Inspiring,” was organised to honour women employees and pay tribute to their strength, dedication, and leadership. The programme featured inspiring talks by women leaders in the hospital and a cultural programme with dance performances by doctors and residents.

Aravind-Madurai

A special highlight of the activities and competitions held at Aravind-Madurai was the International Women’s Day events, organised by male staff and participated in by female staff. The events included drawing, kolam, turncoat debates, yoga, and a trek to Samanar Malai. A special “Cooking Without Fire” competition was held for male employees, encouraging them to be more supportive of women.

Aravind-Tirunelveli

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised a series of events focused on two key aspects: Internal and External Self-Development, under the theme Self-Development/Self-Care. Four sessions were conducted, featuring experts from various fields.
The first session on Self-Development through a Healthy Mind was led by Maharasi Manasa, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, who highlighted on self-love. The second session, Self-Development through a Healthy Diet, was conducted by Jannathul Roshan Sabiha, a dietician at Kidney Care Centre, who emphasised the importance of nutrition in overall well-being. The third session, Self-Development through a Healthy Body – நலம் நாடி, was led by Maharajan, a yoga master, who guided participants through yoga practices for physical and mental wellness. The final session, Self-Development through Proper Financial Planning, was conducted by Subramanian, an investment consultant, who highlighted the significance of savings and investments in one’ life.

Aravind-Madurai, 1^st March 2025

CII Madurai Zone organised the 7^th Edition of CII MEDEX 2025, a premier healthcare conference-cum-exhibition showcasing cutting-edge technologies and advancements revolutionising healthcare delivery. The event focused on the theme, “Shaping the Future of Healthcare through Technovation.” Bringing together industry pioneers, experts, and healthcare professionals, the conference provided a unique platform to explore innovations, exchange insights, and drive the future of healthcare.

One of the event’s highlights was a talk by Dr. R. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai, on “Leveraging technovation for transformative hospital management,” offering valuable insights into how technological innovations are being integrated into hospital management systems to enhance operational efficiency, patient care, and overall healthcare outcomes.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 1^st March 2025

Aravind-Pondicherry hosted a one-day workshop, bringing together experts and young researchers for an insightful learning experience. The programme commenced with an introductory speech by Dr. R. Venkatesh, who emphasised the importance of good research in advancing medical knowledge and patient care. The programme featured talks by esteemed speakers on various topics: Dr. Neelam Pawar, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli, spoke on Formulating Research Questions & Hypotheses, Dr. V. Anitha, Chief, Cornea Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli: Citation Styles, Referencing & Plagiarism Check, Dr. O. Annamalai, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, on Study Designs, R. Kumaragurupari, Librarian, Aravind-Madurai, on Review of Literature & Hands-on Training on Zotero, Balagiri, Biostatistician, LAICO, on Introduction to Data Collection Tools & Role of Biostatistics in Research, Dr. S. Josephine Christy on Protocol Checklist, Dr. Jayagayathri, Chief, Orbit Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, on Ethics in Research & IEC Guidelines, and Dr. R. Naveen, Medical Consultant, Cornea Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, on Structuring the Thesis – Practical Tips. Additionally, an interactive Kahoot quiz was conducted, with winners including Dr. Veeransh Shah, Aravind-Pondicherry, Dr. Neel Jain, Aravind-Chennai, and Dr. Zenia Sapra, Aravind-Pondicherry. A total of 27 residents from Aravind Eye Hospitals in Chennai, Pondicherry, Salem, Tirupati, and Tirunelveli participated.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 12-27 February 2025

In commemoration of Low Vision Awareness Month, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised several awareness programmes. A camp was organised at the Mithra Centre for Autism Children on 12^th February 2025, where 77 special children were screened, and 20 children received free spectacles, supported by Vision-Aid. An awareness session for senior MLOPs, held on 14^th February 2025 featured topics including, Optical Aids by Selvi, Refractionist, Non-Optical Aids by Dr. Fathima, LVA In-charge Doctor, and Types of Rehabilitation by Hemalakshmi, Special Educator.

Additionally, there was an awareness exhibition conducted in the renovated old building (A Block) on 26-27 February 2025, inaugurated by Dr. Syed Mohideen Abdul Kadar, Chief, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli. Charts, models, and low vision devices were displayed, witnessed by 205 patients, attendants, and internal staff, who provided positive feedback. An online guest lecture on Autism Spectrum Disorder was conducted on 27^th February 2025 with resource person, Dr. P. Sudhakar, MD, Dip. Development Neurology, handling the session. Doctors from Aravind’s Paediatric Ophthalmology departments in Madurai, Pondicherry, Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore, and Tirupati participated. Finally, a quiz competition on Vision Rehabilitation was conducted by Dr. Fathima and  Dr. Anupama on the same day for postgraduates who actively participated, and won attractive prizes.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 25^th February 2025

As part of employee welfare initiatives, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised two motivational sessions for MLOPs, conducted by R. Ganesh, Founder of Life Improvement through Mind Engineering (LIME). He handled two sessions titled, “ஒழுங்கே உயர்வு தரும்” for 2nd-year MLOP trainees, and தலைமுறை Z ஐ எவ்வாறு கையாள்வது” for MLOP Supervisors, Tutors, and MLOP In-charges.

Aravind-Tuticorin, 28^th February 2025

A similar session was conducted at Aravind-Tuticorin by R. Ganesh for MLOPs and administrative staff on the topic “மனம் என்னும் ஒரு மந்திர சாவி.” He spoke on how to become a complete person and highlighted the importance of self-motivation for success in both professional and personal life.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 23^rd February 2025

Aravind-Pondicherry observed its 22^nd Hospital Day with a warm celebration. The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. R. Venkatesh, reflecting on the remarkable achievements of 2024. Inspiring speeches were delivered by Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Dr. G. Natchiar, and Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director Emeritus, AECS, sharing their words of wisdom. A special moment was dedicated to honouring long-term Aravind members with mementos in recognition of their dedication. The event also featured cultural performances by MLOPs, PG residents, fellows, and enthusiastic performances by the children of doctors. Additionally, the winners of the Aravind Inspiring Innovator Awards were felicitated with mementos, celebrating their outstanding contributions.

Aravind-Salem, 23^rd February 2025

Aravind-Salem organised Sponsors’ Day 2025, bringing together camp sponsors to honour their invaluable contributions toward eliminating needless blindness. The event began with a prayer song, followed by a welcome address by Seran I, Manager, Patient Care, Aravind-Salem. Dr. R. Sankarananthan, Medical Consultant, Cataract & Uvea Services, Aravind-Salem, presented the outreach performance report, highlighting the achievements and progress made throughout the year. An experience-sharing session followed, where sponsors shared their personal experiences and the satisfaction they derived from supporting these initiatives. Their heartfelt stories reflected the positive impact of their contributions and underscored the importance of sustaining these partnerships. The event continued with the felicitation of eye donation sponsors and camp sponsors, honouring their selfless efforts with mementos and encouraging them to continue their support. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Manohar Babu, CMO, Aravind-Salem, followed by a delightful dinner.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 23^rd February 2025

Organised by Aravind-Pondicherry, the CME brought together some of the key resources persons in ophthalmology to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in managing endophthalmitis. The keynote speaker, Dr. R.D. Ravindran shared his invaluable insights on cluster endophthalmitis. The programme featured insightful talks by esteemed faculty including, Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Dr. Naresh Babu, Chief, Retina Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. Y.C. Venugopal, Chief, Retina Services, Aravind-Tirupati, Dr. Prabu Baskaran, Aravind-Chennai, Dr. Manavi D. Sindal, Chief, Retina Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, and Dr. Renu P. Rajan, Medical Consultant, Retina Services, Aravind-Madurai. Additionally, guest faculty including Dr. Mahesh Gopalakrishnan, Giridhar Eye Institute, Kochi, Dr. Utsab Pan, Susrut Eye Foundation, West Bengal, Dr. C K Nagesha, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, and Dr. Amit Kumar Deb, JIPMER, Pondicherry, made the event more resourceful. A total of 100 participants attended the programme.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 21^st February 2025

A team of 20 senior staff from Aravind-Tirunelveli visited the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) to observe Total Quality Management (TQM) and the safety protocols followed there. The visit provided valuable insights and a unique learning experience.

LAICO, 7-11 March 2025

The Lions Strategic Planning Workshop was designed to strengthen the service delivery of Lions Eye Hospitals, including Aurangabad Chikalthana Lions Eye Hospital, Maharashtra, Lions Eye Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Gauhati Lions Eye Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, Smt. Rajeswari Ramakrishnan Lions Eye Hospital, Nidadavole, Andhra Pradesh, and Ranigunj MJM Lions Eye Hospital, Ranigunj, West Bengal. The objective of this five-day workshop was to develop a comprehensive action plan to achieve project goals in key focus areas, including, increasing cataract surgery volume, expanding outreach initiatives (school screening, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy screening), establishing and managing vision centres, and enhancing specialty services. The workshop featured exposure visits, expert-led sessions, and collaborative group work, providing participants with valuable insights and strategies to improve hospital operations. By the end of the workshop, all five hospitals finalised their project goals and committed to implementing their strategic plans, paving the way for improved eye care services in their respective regions.

LAICO, 12-25 February 2025

LAICO organised the 22^nd batch of the “Management Training for Programme Managers” course, attended by participants from eight countries, including Belgium, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Myanmar, Rwanda, and Vietnam. The two-week course enabled programme managers to understand the scope and priorities of eye care service delivery worldwide. It also helped them design needs-centric and evidence-based programmes, including population-specific service delivery, ensure skilled human resources, make informed strategic decisions about the programmes they financially support, and manage changes as programmes grow.

Coimbatore, 21-23 February 2025

Dr. T.P. Vignesh, Medical Consultant, Retina-Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai, was an invited speaker at the Advances in Retinal Imaging, Surgery, & Electrophysiology (ARISE) Conference, organised by The Eye Foundation Hospital, Coimbatore, and held at Radisson Blu, Coimbatore. He delivered a talk on “Evolution of treatment regimens with Anti-VEGF agents and management of neovascular AMD.