For Aravind, annual day celebrations and inauguration ceremonies are recurring events, as continuous expansion, and new initiatives happen quiet often, enhancing eye care. In this spirit, the recent annual day celebrations at Aravind-Tirunelveli, Aurolab, and Auroitech, along with the inauguration of the Regional Research Centre at Aravind-Tirunelveli, filled the past month with moments of joy and pride. A special highlight was Aravind receiving the prestigious Dr. K.V. Thiruvengadam Award for Health Care 2024-25, recognising its contributions to eye care and public health. These events reaffirm Aravind’s commitment to carrying forward Dr. V’s legacy, continuing on his path to eliminating needless blindness.

The inauguration of the Research Centre marks another milestone in Aravind’s pursuit of excellence in eye care, extending its services beyond national boundaries. The centre is dedicated to conducting both basic and translational research to advance vision science and develop innovative solutions to reduce the burden of blindness.

Aurolab celebrated its 33rd Annual Day, highlighting its unwavering mission to enable vision for all. What began with just 11 dedicated individuals and limited resources has now flourished into a leading force in the ophthalmic industry, serving the global demand.

Similarly, Auroitech celebrated its 2nd Annual Day on 1st February 2025, with a conference and a celebratory event highlighting the evolving role of technology in healthcare.
These annual occasions serve as a time to honour employees for their partnership in service and to reaffirm the organisation’s vision and goals.

These events, along with many more that took place between 15th January and 15th February, are featured in this edition.

Pondicherry, 7-9 February 2025

Aravind-Pondicherry won multiple prizes at the Agriculture Festival 2025 and the 35th Flower, Vegetable, and Fruit Exhibition, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Puducherry. The event, held at the Botanical Garden, Pondicherry, was a grand celebration of nature’s beauty and agricultural excellence. The hospital won three awards in various categories, first prize in the cacti and succulents category, second prize in the kitchen garden category, and a special prize in the ornamental garden category.

Aravind-Chennai, 4^th February 2025

Aravind Eye Care System (AECS) was honoured with the Dr. K.V. Thiruvengadam Award for Health Care 2024-25 by the Rotary Club of Madras East, in collaboration with Kauvery Hospital, in recognition of its outstanding contributions to eye care and public health. Dr. Aravind Srinivasan, Director-Projects, AECS, received the award on behalf of the organisation.

New Delhi, 19^th January 2025

Aravind doctors won prizes at the DRF Winter Meet 2025, organised by the Delhi Retina Forum, held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Dr. Shreyas Sundardas Gore, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai
EuroVersion – India: Video Presentation Selection Round
Second Prize
Title: Live Rescue – Exorcising the worm: Novel use of viscous fluid extractor for parasitic extraction (Video Presentation)

Dr. Harshini G.V, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai
EuroVersion – India: Video Presentation Selection Round
Third Prize
Title: Treasure in the trash: Submacular CNVM removal surgery (Video Presentation)

Aravind-Chennai, 9^th February 2025

The Insurance Central Office, Aravind-Madurai, organised an Insurance Symposium at Aravind-Chennai. The event featured a panel discussion with top executives from various insurance and Third-Party Administrator (TPA) companies. The event provided a valuable platform for Aravind’s insurance staff to engage in discussions, explore industry trends, address challenges, and gain insights into insurance modalities. The programme effectively answered staff queries and facilitated meaningful interactions and rapport-building with industry experts. A total of 70 participants attended the symposium, including approximately 40 representatives from the insurance and TPA sectors, along with insurance staff from the Tertiary Eye Care Centres.

Aravind-Madurai, 9^th February 2025

Organised by Aravind-Madurai, the two-day surgical feast showcased the intricacies of Vitreo-Retina surgeries. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, AECS, delivered the inaugural address via a recorded video, Dr. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai, welcomed the gathering, and Dr. Naresh Babu, Chief, Vitreo-Retina Services, Aravind-Madurai, outlined the programme overview. Key insights were shared on scleral buckling, ROP, giant retinal tears, diabetic membrane dissection, complex retinal detachments, large macular holes, intraocular foreign body removal, and endophthalmitis. The distinguished faculty including Dr. Pramod Bhende, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Dr. Mahesh Shanmugam, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru, Dr. Naresh Kumar Yadav, Narayana Nethralaya, Bengaluru, Dr. Chandra Mohan, Mohan Retina Centre, Vijayawada, Dr. Rajeev Reddy, LVPEI, Dr. Karthik Kumar, Kumars Eye Care, Kanchipuram, as well as internal faculty members, shared their insights. With a total of eight sessions across two days, the event saw a total of 130 delegates from across South India.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 8^th February 2025

Aravind-Tirunelveli celebrated its 37th Hospital Day in a joyful and memorable manner. The guests of honour including Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, and Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, AECS, graced the event. The programme commenced with a prayer song by Dr. Kavya, followed by a welcome address from Dr. R. Meenakshi. Dr. Nimrita Nagdev, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Tirunelveli, presented the activity report for the year 2024. A milestone video showcasing the hospital’s achievements was screened, followed by a special address by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli. Lr. S. Jafer Ali, Advocate and well-wisher, shared his feedback on the remarkable service rendered by the hospital and expressed his appreciation for the staff. Service awards and prizes were presented to staff members by the dignitaries. Cultural programmes, performed by doctors and MLOPs, were energetic and well-received. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. V. Maneksha, followed by a dinner.

Ariyalur, 6^th February 2025

The Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme was inaugurated at the Government Medical College Hospital, Ariyalur. Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Chief, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services, Aravind-Madurai, graced the occasion as the guest of honour and delivered a talk during the inauguration ceremony. Dr. Prajna handed over the eye donation information board to Dr. Muthukrishnan, Dean of the hospital. They also released a special edition on eye donation during the programme.

A session was conducted by D. Saravanan, Manager, Eye Bank, Aravind-Madurai. The event was attended by 150 participants, including the office bearers of the hospital, doctors, nurses, and allied staff.

Aravind-Madurai, 4-5 February 2025

The Central Office of HR, Aravind-Madurai, organised an HR Retreat attended by Regional HR Directors from all five zones, MLOP Doctors In-charge, and HR Managers from all hospitals. Cindy Harrison, Vice President, Henry Ford Health System and the HR team’s mentor since 2000, facilitated the retreat. The HR team worked on a framework for strategic HR planning for the next 1-3 years. Dr. R.D. Ravindran delivered the keynote address, while Dr. G. Natchiar gave a special address, sharing her insights on human resource practices at Aravind.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 12^th February 2025

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, inaugurated the newly installed Legion Phaco Machine at the Wet Lab. The event took place in the presence of Dr. R. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli and other staff members.

Aravind-Madurai, 31^st January – 1^st February 2025

Organised by the Central HR Team, this two-day workshop was designed for medical consultants, equipping them with essential principles for personal and professional growth. The workshop was conducted by certified trainer Cindy Harrison, who was personally trained by Stephen Covey. The sessions included interactive discussions, group activities, and practical exercises, helping attendees gain insights into each habit and apply them in their daily lives. Around 20 medical consultants from across all Aravind centres attended the programme.

Uthamapalayam & Salaigramam, 24^th & 28^th  January 2025

D. Saravanan conducted two sessions on eye donation, the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme, and the role of healthcare professionals in eye donation at two different locations. His session held at the Government Hospital in Uthamapalayam on 24th January 2025 was attended by 25 personnel, including doctors, nurses, and allied staff. Similarly, the programme held at the Block-Level PHC in Salaigramam, was attended by 70 participants.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 20^th January 2025

The OT Injection facility at Aravind-Tirunelveli was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan in the presence of the Retina team. The event began with a bhajan, symbolising a step toward improving patient care and safety.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 8^th February 2025

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy inaugurated the Regional Research Centre, established at Aravind-Tirunelveli, in the presence of Padma Shri Dr. G. Natchiar, Prof. K. Dharmalingam, Director-Research, AMRF, Dr. Siddharth, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. A. Vanniarajan, Scientist, AMRF, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Dr. R. Meenakshi, and other staff members. The new research centre will conduct basic and translational research to advance vision science and develop new ways to reduce the burden of blindness.

Aurolab, 25^th January 2025

Aurolab celebrated its 33rd Annual Day, a moment to reinforce Aravind’s values, culture, and achievements. The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Dr. P. Balakrishnan, Managing Director Emeritus, Aurolab, RD Sriram, Managing Director, Aurolab, Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Dr. G. Natchiar, Dr. RD. Ravindran, Thulasiraj, President, Aurolab Trust, and Dr. Velautham Sarveswaran, Chairman of Trustees, Assist Resettlement and Renaissance, UK and SL.

A highlight of the evening was the recognition of employees who had dedicated 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to Aurolab. Their commitment and contributions were celebrated with awards presented by the dignitaries. The event also featured captivating cultural performances by the production staff, adding vibrancy to the occasion. The celebration concluded with a special dinner, bringing together the Aurolab family in a spirit of unity and shared success.

Assam & Uttar Pradesh, 26-30 January &  5-7 February 2025

As part of the Lions Project, Dr. Sathish Devaraj, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Salem, and Mohammed Gowth, Senior Faculty, LAICO, conducted a Needs Assessment Visit to the Guwahati Lions Eye Hospital, Assam, on 26-30 January 2025. Similarly, Dr. Balaji V, Medical Consultant, Cornea Services, Aravind-Madurai, and Syed Ali A, Senior Faculty, LAICO, Raghul D, Faculty Associate, LAICO, conducted a visit to the Lions Eye Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on 5 – 7 February 2025. The main objective of these visits was to gain an understanding of the hospitals and identify potential focus areas for improvement.

LAICO, 31^st January – 4^th February 2025

LAICO has initiated a three-year capacity-building project in collaboration with Sightsavers to enhance eye care delivery in five underserved districts in India. One of the key activities of the District Planning Initiative is to develop effective strategies and action plans to improve eye care services.
In this regard, a five-day Vision Building and Strategic Planning Workshop was conducted at LAICO, bringing together representatives from three districts: Gumla (Jharkhand), Sirohi (Rajasthan), and Katihar (Bihar). Representatives from Sightsavers and the DPM from Gumla also participated, along with the LAICO team. The workshop focused on public-private partnerships, outreach sustainability, improving surgery uptake, quality and sterilisation standards. In addition to classroom sessions, participants visited primary eye care centres, community centres, and secondary hospitals of similar size. They also attended an outreach camp to observe systems, processes, and best practices in service delivery. At the end of the workshop, each district’s representatives developed an action plan for the next year.

Aravind-Madurai, 23-30 January 2025

The 23rd batch of the Management Priorities in Eye Care Delivery course was successfully conducted for 27 participants from India, Nigeria (virtually), and Nepal. Designed for heads of eye hospitals, the programme focused on strategic management, leadership, and operational excellence. The course featured sessions from internal faculty, including Dr. R.D. Ravindran, R.D. Thulasiraj, Emeritus Executive Director, LAICO, Dr. Venkatesh Prajna, and others. Guest faculty such as Prof. Balasubramaniam, Prof. DVR Seshadri, and Manish Kumar enriched the sessions with insights on financial management, leadership, and operational strategies. The course provided participants with valuable tools to enhance efficiency and impact in their eye hospitals.

Aravind-Madurai, 30^th January 2025

AuroiTech hosted an exclusive Client Retreat, bringing together its clients for meaningful discussions, networking, and strategic collaborations. The event facilitated stronger relationships and provided insights into upcoming innovations, solutions, and services in eyeNotes. Attendees engaged in high-level discussions, built connections, and gained a deeper understanding of AuroiTech’s vision for the future. Around 14 participants from eight hospitals attended the programme who provided positive feedback on the engaging format of the programme.

Aravind-Madurai, 31^st January 2025

AuroiTech organised a hackathon aimed at encouraging innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving among college students. The event provided an opportunity for participants to think creatively and develop technology-driven solutions to real-world problems. Industry experts mentored students, helping them refine their ideas and technical skills. The participants showcased their talents and enthusiasm throughout the event. With over 75 students from various colleges taking part, the day was filled with creativity, competition, and networking.

Aravind-Madurai, 1^st February 2025

AuroiTech celebrated its 2nd annual day by organising various programmes. It included a Healthcare Technology Transformation conference, focused on the evolving role of technology in healthcare. This conference brought together leading experts in the technical field to explore pressing issues and innovations transforming healthcare. Keynote speakers included, Sarath Anand Jupalli, MD, Shivam Medisoft Services Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Sumanth Raman, Founder, Algorithm Health, Ashokkan Somuveerappan, CIO – Hospital Division, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Durga Rathinasamy, Data Leader, Deputy General Manager, Samsung Electronics, Vidhya Chandrasekaran, Engineering Leader- Search, Google, Bagmisikha Puhan, Managing Partner, Puhan & Puhan LLP, and Dr. Vivek Gupta, Additional Professor of Community Ophthalmology, Chief Information Security Officer – AIIMS. The conference highlighted advancements in ERP, EMR, data engineering, and patient data security.

The annual day celebration held in the evening, recognised teamwork and achievements of employees over the past year and outlined the vision for the future. The event featured speeches from leadership members, recognition of top performers, and presentations on AuroiTech’s vision and goals.

Coimbatore, 2^nd February 2025

Seran I, Manager, Patient Care, Aravind-Salem, served as an invited panellist at the South Indian Hospital Administrators Meet (SIHAM) 2025, held at Hash Six Hotels, Coimbatore. He participated in the session titled “How quality redefines growth?”.

Chandigarh, 7–9 February 2025

Aravind doctors and residents actively participated and presented papers at the third National Conference of Neuro-Ophthalmology (NCNO 2025), organised by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

Dr. Kowsalya Akkayasamy, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Identifying and overcoming barriers to neuro-ophthalmological follow up care through telemedicine enabled vision centres: A comprehensive analysis of patient adherence and demographic influences
Co-authors: Shivek Narang, Student, University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Smrithi Sony Thampi, Resident, Aravind-Madurai

Dr. Sudha K S, Resident, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Insights into isolated fourth nerve palsy clinical profile, Etiologies, recovery outcomes in a tertiary eye care centre
Co-authors: Dr. Jayasri K N, Dr. Mahesh Kumar S, Dr. Kowsalya A

Dr. Jayasri K.N, Aravind-Madurai
Title: A case series of Tuberous sclerosis with Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations: Current perspectives
Co-authors: Dr. Vijayaprabha, Dr. Maheshkumar S, Dr. Kowsalya A

Dr. A. Balraj, Aravind-Pondicherry
Title: Sellar Plasmacytoma: A rare case report

London, 24^th January 2025

Dr. Manju R. Pillai, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Madurai, presented two posters titled “GAPO syndrome” and “An unusual case of ocular hypertension following steroid treatment in Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease” at the UK Paediatric Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting, held at the Cavendish Conference Centre, Duchess Mews, London.

New Delhi, 19^th January 2025

Aravind doctors participated and won prizes at the EuroVersion – India: Video Presentation Selection Round, during the DRF Winter Meet 2025, organised by the Delhi Retina Forum, held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on 19th January 2025.

Dr. Naresh Babu, Chief, Retina and Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Intravitreal methotrexate as an adjuvant in vitrectomy in cases of retinal detachment with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (Video Presentation)

Dr. Anish, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Batting the parasite: Surgical management of intravitreal cyst (Video Presentation)

Dr. Rashmi Nagar, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Air perfused vitrectomy in traumatic vitreous haemorrhage (Video Presentation)

Dr. Jawahar Satya Babu, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Managing keratitis and endophthalmitis: A dual infection challenge (Video Presentation)