The expansion of Aravind’s eye-care services to the community is reflected not only in the increasing number of patients served at its each centre, but also in the tangible growth of infrastructure required to meet rising demand and rapid advancements in the field of ophthalmology. In this regard, Aravind-Salem has relocated from its earlier premises to a nearby location in Uthamacholapuram, along the Salem-Coimbatore Highway. From the early building spread across 42,000 square feet and serving since 2011, the hospital has moved to a new facility covering 2.5 lakh square feet over seven acres of land. The new hospital has the capacity to serve 2,000 patients per day and perform 150 surgeries daily through 14 operation theatres. This expansion represents a significant advancement in service delivery, effectively addressing the eye-care needs of the western region of Tamil Nadu.

Similarly, Aurolab has recently inaugurated its newly expanded facilities and infrastructure projects, reflecting its mission to “See New Possibilities.” The relocation of the crèche to a dedicated new building, along with the addition of the canteen dining hall, staff dining hall, and the new Optics Division, highlights Aurolab’s commitment to enhancing operational capacity while improving staff welfare.

Together, these physical expansions highlight collective organisational growth, laying a strong foundation for future development and continued excellence.

News of these developments, along with several other significant events from the month of December, is featured in this edition of the newsletter, with some highlights continuing into the next issue.

Bengaluru, 19-21 December 2025 

Doctors from Aravind-Chennai won the NN Video Awards at the Glaucoma Mastercut 2025 Conference, organised by Narayana Nethralaya, held at Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru.

Dr. Haasini, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Chennai

• Title: GATT: Three Problems, Three Solutions

Dr. V. Prasanna, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Chennai

• Title: When Tanito Cleaves More Than It Ought To

Goa, 19-21 December 2025

Dr. Seema Prabu, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Chennai

• Second Prize in the Photo Presentation
  Title: The Eye of a Storm: A 4-month-old buphthalmic cornea with a flat anterior chamber and an anteriorly dislocated microspherophakic sutural cataract, resembling an eye within this unfortunate end-stage eye.

Dr. Dixitha. V, Cornea Fellow, Aravind-Madurai

• Third Prize in Best of Best Free Paper Session
  Title: Risk Factors, Treatment, and Outcomes of Corneal Infection with Dematiaceous Fungi

18^th December 2025

The Best Performance of the Year Award was presented to Aravind-Salem by Eicher Motor Limited at the Eicher Driver Care Programme, an annual Coordinators’ Meet held as part of their CSR initiative.

Notably, Boopathi S, Optometrist, Aravind-Salem, received an Appreciation Award in recognition of his enthusiastic participation and meaningful contributions.

Italy, 4-5 December 2025

Dr. Puja Maitra, Medical Consultant, Retina & Vitreous Service, Aravind-Chennai, won the Best ROP Kaleidoscope Paper Award at the World ROP Congress 2025, held in Florence, Italy.

• Title: Eyes without answers

Several doctors and fellows from Aravind have successfully cleared the Fellow of the All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) Examination 2025, an advanced specialisation examination conducted by the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) in various fields of eye care.

Aravind-Madurai

FAICO ORBIT

• Dr. Lakkimsetty Bharadwaj, Orbit Fellow
• Dr. Aparna Alphons Kurian, Orbit Fellow

FAICO RETINA

• Dr. Ramya Jeyasingh Rajan, Medical Consultant
• Dr. Rajiv Pardasani, Medical Consultant,
• Dr. Krishna Pramod, Medical Consultant,
• Dr. Konduru Rishitha, Medical Consultant,
• Dr. Sivaraman G. Medical Consultant,
• Dr. Aravindh, Medical Consutant,
• Dr. Rashmi Nagar, Retina Fellow,
• Dr. Shreyas Sundardas Gore, Retina Fellow
• Dr. Nivedita, Retina Fellow
• Dr. Jigu S Krishn, Retina Fellow
• Dr. Harishini G.V., Retina Fellow
• Dr. Veeradasari Jawahar Satya, Retina Fellow
• Dr. Anish Chandane, Retina Fellow
• Dr. Neeti Agarwal, Retina Fellow

FAICO ORBIT

• Dr. Aparna Alphons Kurian, Orbit Fellow

FAICO CATARACT

• Dr. Sameer Chaudhary, Medical Officer, General Ophthalmology Services
• Dr. Gopal Archana, Medical Consultant, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services
• Dr. Praveen Kumar Khuntia, IOL Fellow
• Dr. Gariyashee Lahkar, IOL Fellow
• Dr. Kriti Bhatt, IOL Fellow
• Dr. Anooj Asif, IOL Fellow
• Dr. Ramya Chirumamilla, IOL Fellow
• Dr. M.D. Alan Uddin, IOL Fellow
• Dr. K. Dhivya, Medical Officer

FAICO PAEDIATRIC

• Dr. Sreelekshmi, Paediatric Fellow
• Dr. Abirami Priyadarshini, Cornea Fellow
• Dr. Dixitha, Cornea Fellow

Aravind-Pondicherry

UVEA FAICO

• Dr. Devika Bhattacharya Mandlik, Medical Consultant, Retina-Vitreous Services

FAICO RETINA

• Dr. Pawan Garde, Fellow, Retina-Vitreous Services
• Dr. Sarany B, Fellow, Retina-Vitreous Services

 Aravind-Coimbatore

 FAICO PAEDIATRIC

• Dr. S. Murali Krishan, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Services, Udumalpet

FAICO GLAUCOMA

• Dr. Neenu Mariam George, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma services, Coimbatore

FAICO RETINA & VITREOUS

• Dr. Ayushi Verma, Fellow

FAICO UVEA

• Dr. Nina P. Jacob, Fellow, Surgical Paediatric Retina Services, Coimbatore,

FAICO PAEDIATRIC

• Dr. Jogith, Medical Consultant, Paediatric & Strabismus service
• Dr. Pooja K.V., Medical Consultant, Paediatric & Strabismus

Aravind-Tirunelveli

FAICO CATARACT

• Dr. A.J. Anju, Medical Consultant, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services
• Dr. A. Jaishri Priya, Medical Consultant, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services

FAICO GLAUCOMA

• Dr. Kavya Subramanian, Glaucoma Fellow
• Dr. Ramarghya Kusum Chakraborty, Glaucoma Fellow

Aravind-Chennai

FAICO CATARACT

• Dr. Saranya, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Services

FAICO RETINA

• Dr. Sorthiya Bansari Parsottam, Retina Fellow

Dr. Abhishek G, DNB Resident, Aravind-Coimbatore, won First Prize for the Clinical Image of the Month (November) in the imaging competition conducted by the Vitreoretinal Society of India (VRSI).

His award-winning image, titled “Retinal Tornado: The Fury of a Giant Retinal Tear,” was captured using an Optos ultra-widefield retinal imaging camera. The image depicts a giant retinal tear in which the entire temporal retina has detached and flipped over like a flap. The rolled-over retina resembles a tornado, while the exposed area beneath appears volcanic, creating a dramatic and striking visual.

Bangalore, 6-7 December 2025

Dr. Shrieyas Sundaradas Gore, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai won second prize for E-Video presentation at the Retina Surgical Circuit 2025, held at Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore.

•  Title: Live Rescue: Exorcising the worm

Alleppey, 17 December 2025

The Lions Club of Mannar presented an award to Aravind-Tirunelveli in recognition of its yeoman service to the public in eliminating needless blindness and restoring vision to millions. The award was presented during a special function held at Mannar in Alleppey District.

The award was received by Hemachandran, Camp Organiser, Dr. Kalayani, Senior Resident, and AOPs, on behalf of Aravind–Tirunelveli.

Aravind-Tirupati, 20^th December 2025

Aravind-Tirupati celebrated its 7th Hospital Day on the theme “50 Years of Aravind.” For the first time, the programme was held in the quarters garden, with all decorations being handcrafted by AOPs.  As part of the programme, Dr. Ashok Vardhan, CMO, Aravind-Tirupati, delivered the welcome address, followed by the presentation of the Annual Report by Dr. Keerthi Gayam, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirupati. Service Awards for 5 and 15 years were then presented to employees. Kannamma Ravindran presented the 100% On-Time Attendance Award. Awards were also given to the winning team of Aurosambaralu, as well as for the Hostel Best Rooms Award and Best Wing Award. Dr. Kalpana Narendran released the AOP newsletter for the year 2025.

The event featured an inspiring address by the Guest of Honour, Thiru. K. Ranganatham, who spoke on Aravind’s spiritual role, followed by the Chief Guest, Dr. Jagadish, who shared how the hospital and Dr. V had influenced him personally. The cultural programme, organised by AOPs, showcased Aravind’s 50-year journey. The celebration concluded with a vote of thanks by Kesava Kumar, General Manager, followed by the National Anthem and a delicious dinner.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 17-18 December 2025

The Retina Department of Aravind-Coimbatore, in association with Alcon, organised a two-day Surgical Skills Enhancement Programme for final-year vitreoretinal fellows, aimed at improving surgical skills and clinical decision-making in vitreoretinal surgery. The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr. V. Narendran, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Coimbatore, and Dr. V.R. Saravanan, Chief, Retina-Vitreous Services, Aravind-Coimbatore.

The academic sessions covered key topics such as surgical ergonomics, advanced diagnostic techniques, intraocular fluids and gases, and recent advances in vitrectomy systems. Faculty members also discussed the management of complex retinal conditions, including diabetic tractional retinal detachment, macular holes, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, endophthalmitis, high myopic retinal detachment, open globe injuries, and intraocular foreign bodies.

The programme featured interactive video-based case discussions, exposure to three-dimensional visualisation systems, and hands-on wet lab training using the Alcon Constellation platform. These sessions enabled fellows to gain practical experience and develop strategies to manage intraoperative challenges and complications.

A total of 18 fellows from Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Chennai, Pondicherry, Tirupati, Tirunelveli, and Coimbatore participated in the programme.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 21^st December 2025

Aravind-Pondicherry organised the Technology Skill Transfer Course (TSTC) to strengthen teaching and communication skills through the effective use of technology. Designed for both students and mentors, the course focused on enhancing teaching and learning through the mindful use of AI tools, creating authentic and engaging PowerPoint presentations, and developing skills in video editing.

A special highlight of the programme was the talk titled “What Surgery Could Teach Us” by Dr. Deepak Meghur, in which he shared his journey toward becoming a globally respected mentor. His reflections deeply resonated with the participants, emphasising how the sharing of experience can transform surgical skills and professional growth.

Overall, the programme fostered a renewed enthusiasm to learn, explore emerging technologies, and continuously refine educational practices through shared experiences and collective growth among colleagues.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 17^th December 2025

A Ward Exhibition was organised at Aravind-Tirunelveli with the objective of creating awareness about the vital functions and responsibilities of the Ward Department. The exhibition highlighted the crucial role of ward services in ensuring quality patient care, safety, effective coordination, and the smooth functioning of hospital operations.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, in the presence of Dr. R. Meenakshi, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli.  Through informative displays, charts, and demonstrations, the exhibition showcased various aspects of ward management, including patient admission and discharge procedures, infection control practices, and documentation processes.

Aravind-Coimbatore,12^th December 2025

A safety awareness session for security personnel and escalator staff was organised and conducted by Shivalingam, Service Engineer, Johnson Lift Industries. The session focused on safety procedures, proper handling, and preventive measures related to the operation and maintenance of escalators. Important guidelines, emergency handling practices, and safety precautions were explained in detail to ensure safe and efficient operations.

The programme was informative and beneficial, enhancing safety awareness among the staff and reinforcing the importance of adhering to standard safety practices.

Aravind-Salem, 14^th December 2025

Aravind-Salem has been serving the eye-care needs of the western region of Tamil Nadu since 2011, operating from Nethimedu, Salem. To meet the growing demand for quality eye care, Aravind-Salem opened its new hospital building at a nearby location in Uthamacholapuram, along the Salem-Coimbatore Highway.

The new building was inaugurated by the Honourable Supreme Court Justice Thiru. R. Mahadevan. The inaugural event began with Dr. B. Manohar Babu, CMO, Aravind-Salem, delivering the welcome address. Dr. R. Kim, President, GOVEL Trust, presented an overview of the Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), while Dr. S. Aravind, Director-Projects, AECS, highlighted key projects undertaken across AECS. Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, and Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, AECS, delivered the felicitation addresses. The Guest of Honour, Dr. M. Ramasamy, visionary Founder and Chairman of Rasi Seeds (P) Ltd., Salem, delivered the special address. The chief guest address was delivered by Honourable Justice Thiru. R. Mahadevan.

The construction agencies involved in the project were honoured during the occasion. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. J. Anuja, Medical Consultant, Cornea & Refractive Surgery, Aravind-Salem.

The programme was attended by several distinguished guests, including Thulasiraj Ravilla, Executive Director Emeritus, LAICO, Dr. V. Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Director – Finance, AECS, and many others.

This state-of-the-art facility, spread across 2.5 lakh square feet on seven acres of land, has the capacity to serve 2,000 patients per day and perform 150 surgeries daily through 14 operation theatres. The hospital houses all ophthalmic subspecialty units and offers parking facilities for up to 300 cars, housing facilities for doctors, and hostel facilities for PGs and AOPs, significantly strengthening Aravind-Salem’s ability to deliver comprehensive and advanced eye care.

Aravind-Madurai, 7^th December 2025

Organised by Aravind-Madurai, the workshop on Master MSICS Techniques included classroom lectures, video sessions on handling complex cases, and hands-on practice using simulators and animal eyes. A total of 43 participants, including internal doctors and doctors from various medical colleges, benefited from the workshop. The sessions were moderated by faculty members from the Cataract Clinic and HelpMeSee.

Aravind-Madurai, 5-6 December 2025

The Personnel Department of Aravind-Madurai organised a CME programme titled, “SPARK,” that began with a welcome address by Dr. R. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai. During the programme, Dr. G. Natchiar emphasised the need to reduce absenteeism among the administrative cadre and to create greater awareness of employee benefits.

Deepa, Manager, Central HRD, delivered a session on “Be Proactive,” one of The 7 Habits. Santha, Programmer, presented the new initiatives implemented in the attendance database. A group activity was conducted, with participants divided into five groups to discuss report automation and related topics.

A special address on the roles and responsibilities of the Personnel Department and integrity was delivered by Dr. Usha Kim. Several sessions covering topics such as NABH requirements, monthly reports, payroll processes, EPFO updates, recent Central Government amendments to the Code on Wages and Contract Labour, and the Personnel Calendar were presented by internal members. The meeting concluded with the consolidation of group discussions, which were presented to Dr. R.D. Ravindran.

Theni, 3^rd December 2025

An eye donation awareness programme was conducted at the Government Hospital, Periyakulam, Theni, in collaboration with the Hospital. The programme was presided over by the Joint Director of Health Services, Theni. A session on eye donation, the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme (HCRP), and the importance of healthcare professionals in promoting eye donation was conducted by D. Saravanan, Manager, Eye Bank, Aravind-Madurai. A total of 70 personnel, including the CMO, MS, doctors, nurses, and support staff, participated in the programme.

Aravind – Tirunelveli, 3^rd December 2025

Aravind-Tirunelveli observed World Disability Day by giving special attention to low vision patients, children with special needs, and children with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). To mark the occasion, an exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, along with Dr. Meenakshi, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli, and Dr. Fathima, Medical Consultant and Low Vision In-Charge, Aravind-Tirunelveli.

The exhibition featured informative charts, vision stimulation toys, various types of low vision magnifiers, and a demonstration of the AURA Vision Glass, displayed on a TV to help visitors better understand its use. The Low Vision Clinic distributed crayons and drawing materials to visually challenged and CVI children to support the development of eye-hand coordination, encourage creativity, and boost confidence.

The exhibition was held over four days and was visited by patients, doctors, fellows, and AOPs. Nearly 300 visitors attended the exhibition in total.

Aravind-Salem, 26-27 November 2025

The pooja accommodation options for staff, students, and visiting guests.

The ceremonies were graced by the esteemed presence of Dr. B. Manohar Babu, CMO, Aravind-Salem, Hima Bindu, Dr. Sankarananthan, Medical Consultant, Cataract Services, Aravind-Salem, and Dr. R. Janani, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Salem. The rituals were performed in accordance with traditional customs, invoking blessings for prosperity, safety, and the smooth functioning of the newly established facilities.

Aravind-Tirupati, 24-26 November 2025

Aravind-Tirupati conducted a three-day training programme titled “Peek Community Training Workshop: Field Tests” as part of the Creating Access to Rural Eyecare (CARE) project, which is being implemented in the service area of the Aravind Eye Clinic, Puttur. The primary objective of the workshop was to equip Eye Care Field Workers with the skills to conduct door-to-door and school eye screenings using the Peek application. A total of five Eye Care Field Workers participated in the training.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Ashok Vardhan, CMO, Aravind-Tirupati. On the final day, participants were taken to selected village schools to conduct vision and eye screenings using the Peek application in a live field setting. The workshop was facilitated by Mohd Javed, Peek Software User Trainer, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, and M. J. Vighnesh, Peek Vision India.

Aravind doctors participated in a series of eye health awareness programmes hosted by All India Radio (AIR) from June to November 2025. These sessions aimed to educate the public about common eye conditions and the importance of early care.

Talks by Aravind Doctors:

Dr. Kalpana Narendran, Chief, IOL & Cataract Service, Aravind-Coimbatore, discussed paediatric cataract on 26th June 2025, emphasising the need for early detection and treatment to prevent long-term vision loss in children.

Dr. P. Mangala, Chief, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, spoke about the importance of eye donation on 23rd September 2025, explaining how donated eyes can restore sight and encouraging listeners to pledge their eyes.

Dr. Sandra Ganesh, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, raised awareness on 20th November 2025 about myopia, noting its increasing prevalence among children and stressing the importance of regular eye check-ups and healthy visual habits.

On World Prematurity Day (21st November 2025), Dr. S. Prema, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, talked about Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and highlighted the need for early eye screening in premature babies.

Dr. Premanand discussed glaucoma on 27th November 2025, focusing on the importance of monitoring eye pressure and recognising this silent, vision-threatening disease early.

As part of World Diabetes Day (28th November 2025), Dr. A.S. Prashanth, Medical Consultant, Retina-Vitreous Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, delivered a session on diabetic retinopathy, urging individuals with diabetes to undergo routine eye examinations to prevent vision complications.

These AIR programmes helped the public better understand various eye conditions and encouraged timely care to protect and preserve vision.

Aurolab, 8^th December 2025

Aurolab formally inaugurated its newly expanded facilities and crucial infrastructure projects with the participation of distinguished leaders from Aravind. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Aurolab’s commitment to enhancing operational capacity and improving staff welfare, reflecting its mission to “See New Possibilities.”

Dr. G. Natchiar and Chitra Thulasiraj, Head, DTP & Communications, inaugurated the Crèche in its new dedicated building. This centre highlights Aurolab’s strong focus on employee work-life balance and family support. To further enhance dining and social facilities for staff, a new Canteen Dining Hall was established, and it was dedicated by Thulasiraj Ravilla, President, Aurolab Trust, while the Staff Dining Hall was inaugurated by Mohan Eddy, Advisor, Aurolab.

In addition, the new Optics Division was inaugurated by Rama Rao, Advisor, Aurolab, and the new Domestic Business Office was opened by Ramaraj, Advisor, Aurolab. The event highlighted a collective organisational achievement, laying a strong foundation for future growth and continued excellence.

Vietnam, 16-22 November 2025

To support Orbis Vietnam in strengthening low vision and vision rehabilitation services across the country, nine optometrists from Vietnam underwent training at the Low Vision Rehabilitation Services of Aravind-Madurai. As a continuation of this initiative, Dr. Sahithya and Sr. Jegadeswari from the Paediatric Clinic, Aravind-Madurai, along with Mohammed Gowth, Senior Faculty, LAICO, visited Vietnam to conduct a needs assessment, demonstrate the setup of a low vision clinic, and conduct a workshop on low vision and vision rehabilitation.

During the visit, the team engaged with four institutions: the National Institute of Ophthalmology, Vietnam; Van Thau Eye Hospital; Hai Phong Hospital; and Hanoi Medical University.

The Aravind team established a fully functional Low Vision Clinic at Van Thau Eye Hospital and conducted a one-day workshop titled “Improving Low Vision Services in Vietnam”. The workshop brought together 35 participants from eight eye hospitals, all committed to enhancing services for individuals with low vision.

Both Orbis and the partner hospitals expressed their commitment to conducting monthly follow-ups to ensure effective implementation of the action plans and to further strengthen low vision services across Vietnam.

LAICO, 2-6 December 2025

LAICO conducted the 2nd Batch of the “Vision Centre Management Course” for nine participants from India and Zimbabwe. The training aimed to enhance demand generation, performance, efficiency, best practices, and long-term sustainability of Vision Centres.

The hands-on course equipped participants with essential skills in Vision Centre operations, community engagement, patient follow-up, optical service management, and maintaining clinical quality. Emphasis was placed on the effective use of data and software tools to support informed decision-making.

The programme combined classroom sessions with field visits and real-time observations at Vision Centres, providing participants with practical insights and actionable strategies. By the end of the training, participants were equipped with practical skills and strategies to enhance the reach, quality, and sustainability of eye care services in their communities.

Tanzania, 22^nd November 2025 to 2^nd December 2025

To estimate the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment on Zanzibar Island, Tanzania, LAICO provided training to a 10-member research team at its partner institution, Ebsar Eye Hospital. The training was conducted by Vinoth Kumar, Research Associate, LAICO, who also facilitated the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey with the support of the trained team. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, a total of 4,200 individuals aged 50 years and above have so far been examined in their households using the RAAB 7 methodology. The findings of this survey will support evidence-based planning for eye care services.

LAICO, 12-29 November 2025

LAICO organised the 55th Batch of the “Certificate Course on Community Outreach and Social Marketing of Eye Care Services” for three participants from India and Tanzania. The programme included classroom sessions covering topics such as demand generation, service marketing, GIS planning, and estimation of eye care needs for the service area population.

Participants also visited community sponsors and attended various types of eye camps. They had the opportunity to observe counselling sessions, received training in developing health education materials, and participated in eye camp monitoring meetings. Towards the end of the training, the participants developed outreach strategies for their own hospitals, which they will implement upon returning to their respective locations.

Eritrea, 24-29 November 2025

Cure Blindness, Ethiopia, organised the Ophthalmic Instruments Maintenance Training Course at Berhan Aini Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea, facilitated by Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, India. The training was conducted by faculty from the Biomedical Engineering Department, Aravind, including Prof. N. Manickam, Consultant, and N. Kasthuri, Biomedical Engineer. During the training programme, the working principles of various ophthalmic instruments were discussed. Selected instruments were demonstrated through dismantling and reassembling, with participants divided into two groups for hands-on practice.

Regular assessments were conducted daily. Each trainee received a handbook on Ophthalmic Instrument Maintenance, a training video, and a set of special tools, a digital multimeter, and a soldering kit.

Goa, 19-21 December 2025

Doctors from Aravind participated and won prizes at the 13th Annual Meeting of the Cornea Society of India – KERACON 2025, held at Goa.

Aravind-Coimbatore

Dr. Mangala, Chief, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services, Aravind-Coimbatore

• Title: Introduction and Clinical Importance of Microbiology in Keratitis (Instruction Course Speaker)
• Infectious Keratitis Update session (Panellist)

Dr. Jeyanthi, Medical Consultant

• Title: Retrospective Analysis of Contact Lens-Related Infiltrate (E-Poster)

Dr. Divya Nachammai, Medical Consultant

• Title: Clinical Application of RIDMyC Assay in the Diagnosis of Smear- and Culture-Negative Fungal Keratitis (Free Paper)

Dr. Shreya Podder, Medical Consultant

• Title: Rare Encounters – Two Cases of Atypical Mycobacterial Keratitis (E-Poster)

Dr. Annada Nambiar, Cornea Fellow

• Title: Insider or Outsider – Who’s the Culprit? (E-Poster)

Aravind – Madurai

Dr. Tejaswi Prasad P V

• Predicting Trouble: What Drives Graft Infections After TPK? A Prospective Study at Tertiary Eye Hospital (Free Paper)

Aravind – Thanjavur

Dr. Divya Manohar

• Breaking the MIC Code: AST Interpretation for Ophthalmologists (Instruction Course)

Manila, 12-14 December 2025

Dr. V. R. Saravanan, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Coimbatore

Title: Tackling Fractional Retinal Detachment in IRVAN Syndrome (Video Presentation)

Bangalore, 6-7 December 2025

Dr. V.R. Saravanan participated as a speaker at the Retina Surgical Circuit 2025, held at Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore

• Title: From Breaks to Battles: Tackling Traumatic Retinal Detachments (Speaker)
• Title: From Complexity to Clarity: The Next Step in Diabetic Vitrectomy (Panellist)

Aravind-Madurai, 12-13 December 2025

The Indian Paediatric Glaucoma Society (IPGS) conducted its 5th Biennial Conference at Hotel Fortune Pandiyan, Madurai. Hosted by Aravind, the conference was organised under the guidance of Dr. R. Manju Pillai, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Madurai and a Paediatric Glaucoma Specialist.

A total of 99 participants attended the conference, including invited faculty from the USA, UK, and Abu Dhabi, as well as experts from reputed ophthalmic institutions across India. The invited faculty shared their rich and diverse experiences in the diagnosis and management of childhood glaucoma.

Nearly 50 scientific presentations from academic institutions across the country were presented and discussed. These deliberations significantly contributed to advancing the understanding of childhood and developmental glaucoma, including the genetic associations of various paediatric glaucomas, with special emphasis on early identification and effective management.

The conference was inaugurated by Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi, Advisor, Paediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Madurai, and a pioneer in the management of childhood glaucoma and low vision rehabilitation services in India. The inaugural session was held in the presence of Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, along with other senior leaders of the Aravind Eye Care System (AECS).

The scientific programme featured guest lectures, keynote addresses, video sessions, and competitive segments such as challenging case presentations, physical poster displays, and research paper presentations. These sessions together provided an enriching and comprehensive learning experience for all participants.

Presentations:

Aravind-Coimbatore

Dr. Ganesh V. Raman, Medical Consultant, Aravind-coimbatore

• Title: Deep Sclerectomy in Childhood Glaucoma (Talk)

Dr. Premanand Chandran

• Title: Follow-up Evaluation of Patients Treated for Childhood Glaucoma (Talk)

Aravind-Madurai

Dr. George Varghese Puthuran, Glaucoma Consultant

• Title: GDD primary and as repeat surgery, indications, precautions and challenges (Video Presentation)

Dr. Manju R. Pillai, Glaucoma Consultant, Aravind-Madurai

• Title: Beyond sight (Best Poster)

Dr. A. Vijayalakshmi A., Glaucoma Consultant

• Title: Screening for glaucoma in children with retinopathy of prematurity (Best Poster)

Dr. Noorul Hidaya, Glaucoma Consultant

• Title: Inherited aniridia and glaucoma spectrum of clinical presentations in successive generations (Poster Presentation)

Dr. Kesav, Glaucoma Fellow

• Title: Gapo Syndrome: Genetic analysis (Poster Presentation)

Dr. Faiza Ibrahim, Glaucoma Fellow

• Title: Congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy: To treat as glaucoma or not? (Poster Presentation)

Dr. Karthik Iyer, Glaucoma Fellow

• Title: Challenging differential diagnosis for glaucoma in children. (Poster Presentation)

Dr. Sahana, Glaucoma Fellow, Aravind-Madurai

• Title: A tale of spots, stains ad sight: PPV type lla (Poster Presentation)

Dr. Sravya Chinta, Glaucoma Fellow, Aravind-Madurai

• Title: Multicentric evaluation of clinical and demographic profile in childhood glaucoma across Tamil Nadu (Poster Presentation)

Dr. Tosha Abhay Gujarathi, Glaucoma Fellow, Aravind-Madurai

• Title: Ectropion uveae with Buphthalmos in neonate: A distinct and aggressive subtype on congenital glaucoma (Poster Presentation)

6-7 December 2025

Doctors from Aravind participated in a worldwide webinar during the 5th Global Neuro-Ophthalmology Case Festival. Dr. Mahesh Kumar, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, presented an insightful case. In addition, Dr. S. Mahesh Kumar, Chief, Neuro-Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. S. Padmavathy, Chief, Neuro-Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli, and Dr. Virna Shah, Chief, Neuro-Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, served as esteemed panelists during the webinar.

Their insights and discussions were well received by the international audience. The participation of the Aravind Eye Care System reflects its strong commitment to knowledge sharing and fostering collaboration in the field of neuro-ophthalmology.

Madurai, 5^th December 2025

Prof. K. Dharmalingam, Director, Research, Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF), Madurai, delivered a special lecture at the Kalaignar Centenary Library, Madurai, as part of the 25th Popular Science Lecture, jointly organised by the Kalaignar Centenary Library, Madurai, and the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, Madurai. Prof. Dharmalingam spoke on “Our Unseen Friends: Microbiome and Us,” highlighting the importance of microbes as beneficial organisms and explaining complex concepts in simple terms.

He emphasised how microbes made the Earth habitable and how they support humans in various aspects of daily life. The key takeaway was that microbes are our co-inhabitants, and caring for our microbiome is essential for a healthy life. The session witnessed extensive interaction, with a large number of questions from participants ranging from young children to elderly attendees.

Florence, Italy, 4-7 December 2025

Dr. Parag K. Shah, Chief, Paediatric Retina & Ocular Oncology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, delivered a talk on “Big Baby ROP” at the 5th World Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Congress, held in joint partnership with FLORetina-ICOOR 2025, one of the world’s premier meetings in retinal science and innovation.

During the meeting, Dr. Shah shared his expertise on the management of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in larger infants. His presentation was well received by ophthalmologists and researchers from around the world, highlighting his significant contributions to advancing neonatal eye care.

Kerala, 28-30 November 2025

Doctors from Aravind-Coimbatore had a strong academic and scientific presence at Drishti 2025, the annual conference of the Kerala Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons (KSOS), held in Kollam, Kerala. A total of five doctors from Aravind actively contributed through lectures, instruction courses, panel discussions, and free paper presentations, sharing their clinical expertise and recent advances in ophthalmic care.

Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, NABH Co-ordinator

• Course Title: Dry Lab on Retinoscopy, guiding participants through hands-on skill development (Chief Instructor)

Dr. George Manayath, Medical Consultant

• Guest lecture: Title: Choroid in Focus: Non-invasive Imaging Biomarkers in Pachychoroid Spectrum Diseases

Dr. Ganesh V. Raman, Medical Consultant

• Title: Complications of MIGS & Special Situations Requiring Special Attention – Glaucoma Management (Invited Speaker)
• Judge for the panel discussion session

Dr. Sandra Ganesh, Medical Consultant

• Title: Setting Up a Myopia Clinic (Keynote Talk)
• Title: Botox in Strabismus (Keynote Talk)
• Title: CVI (Cerebral Visual Impairment) Interventions (Keynote Talk)

Dr. Bennet Chacko Mathew, Cornea Fellow

• Instruction course title: Red Eye Reloaded (Co-Instructor)
• Title: Azadirachta Indica: An Indigenous Approach Against Demodectic Ocular Surface Disorders (Free Paper)

Aravind-Coimbatore, 16^th December 2025

Dr. Francis Price, an internationally renowned cornea and corneal transplant surgeon, recently visited Aravind-Coimbatore. During his visit, Dr. Price toured the hospital’s clinical and surgical facilities and gained valuable insights into Aravind’s high-volume service delivery model, comprehensive training programmes, and integrated approach to patient care and research.

Dr. Price interacted extensively with residents and faculty of the Cornea Department. He delivered informal academic talks and participated in in-depth discussions on contemporary advances in corneal transplantation, surgical decision-making, and outcomes-driven training.