Aravind’s commitment to patient care is exemplified by the establishment of new Vision Centres across different locations. The recent addition of the Samayanallur Vision Centre, bringing the total to 112, highlights the organisation’s expansion of service.

In addition to its focus on patient care, Aravind places a strong emphasis on employee welfare. The My life My Pride programme stands as a proof to this commitment, offering employees opportunities for personal and professional development through various extracurricular activities. The recent achievement of earning Taekwondo yellow belts by employees who completed two months of training is a proud reflection of their dedication and the organisation’s support for their growth.

International Women’s Day holds significant importance for Aravind, as it actively contributes to empowering young girls from rural backgrounds through initiatives such as Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOP) training, creating employment opportunities. Thus, Aravind becomes a strong backbone for them in their personal and professional growth. Moreover, Aravind is indebted to these women battalions who later become the pillars of Aravind Eye hospital where 70% of the staff are MLOPs. Their dedicated service to eradicate needless blindness is immense. Hence, the observance of International Women’s Day was a great joy, marked with special events organised across all Aravind centres, including talks, debates, and competitions, actively participated by women employees.

News about these and much more are featured in this series.

Note: The events that occurred between 15th February and 15th March are included here.

Kolkata, 14-17 March

Aravind doctors actively participated and garnered recognition at the 82nd Annual Conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOC 2024) held in Kolkata.

Dr. G. Natchiar was honoured with the International Ophthalmic Heroes of India Award for being conferred with Padma Shri, recongising her distinguished contribution and services in the field of medicine. On behalf of her, the participating doctors from Aravind received the award.

Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, was honoured with the award of the Honorary Fellow All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) at the AIOC 2024, held in Kolkata.
Dr. R.D. Ravindran was nominated in the speciality of “Comprehensive Ophthalmology” by the Governing Board of the Collegium of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) in its meeting held on 8^th February.

Aravind-Madurai

Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Chief, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services
Dr. Gullapalli N Rao Oration Lecture
Title:  Innovative diagnostic procedures in fungal keratitis.

S.R. Rathinam, Chief, Uvea Services was honoured with the Best of IJO Certificate 2023
Title: Leptospiral uveitis: “Transition from epidemic to endemic form” difficulties in laboratory confirmation. (G. Jeya Kohila, P. Chidambaranthan Gowri, and K.S. Balagiri)

Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty
Best Free Papers

• Our SMS Strategy for Molecular Diagnosis of Retinoblastoma
• Genetics and Retinoblastoma: All you need to know!

Dr. Madhu Shekhar, Chief, Cataract Services, received the Best of IJO Certificate 2023
Title: Outcomes of toric intraocular lens realignment surgery done using slit lamp method and wavefront aberrometry method

Dr. Manju R. Pillai, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services
International Ophthalmic Heroes of India Award for Best Video Award – World Glaucoma Congress
Title: This too shall pass

Dr. R. Sharmila, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services
IJO Commendation Certificate – One of the top 10 cited papers of the IJO in 2021
Title: Impact of COVID-19 on follow-up and medication adherence in patients with glaucoma in a tertiary eye care centre in south India
(Dr. Subathra GN, Sharmila R, Dr. Vijayalakshmi A, Iswarya M, and Udayakumar B.)

Dr. Muthukrishnan, Medical Consultant, Retina Services
Best Free Paper
Title: Toxic anterior segment syndrome following Vitreoretinal surgery: A retrospective analysis (FP2083)

Dr. Meera Biju Rahim, IOL Fellow
Consolation prize in the Video Symposium “When the going gets tough”
Title: Innovation born out of an adversity

Dr. Athul S. Puthalath

• Winner – Two minutes to win video symposium
  Title: BLU revolution
• Grand Prize winner – FIFA Film Festival of AIOC
  Title: Slit Lamp Sensor
• Consolation Prize – Think under the apple tree
  Title: Slit lamp sensor: A sustainable solution

Dr. George V. Puthuran, Chief, Glaucoma Services

• AIOS – P Siva Reddy International Award 2023
  Title: Evolution and widespread use of an affordable aqueous drainage implant
• IJO Award of appreciation for one of the top 25 cited papers of 2021
  Title: Neovascular Glaucoma – A review

Dr. Talla Sruthi, Glaucoma Fellow
Best Physical Poster
Title: Bilateral secondary angle closure glaucoma as an initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Dr. Mythri Rao, Glaucoma Fellow
Young Researcher’s Award
1st Prize – All India PG Thesis competition

Aravind-Tirunelveli

Dr. Mohideen Abdul Kader, Medical Consultant, secured the best free paper award for his paper titled, To screen Myocilin mutation in a large South Indian family with early onset JOAG and POAG while, Dr. Shivam Gupta, Medical Consultant, was the winner at the Hyde Park Paper Session for his paper titled, Clinical and surgical outcomes of Sturge Weber syndrome.

Aravind-Coimbatore

Dr. Viji Rangarajan, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty, received the
International Ophthalmic Heroes of India for Best video Oscar award, for her video titled, Eyes are the windows of soul: Bridging extensive upper eyelid colobomas

Dr. Abhishek Das, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Retina-Vitreous Services, secured the Best paper award for his paper titled  Impact of telemedicine in ROP screening in rural outreach in South India: A report of 17270 sessions.

Dr. Virna M Shah, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology
Best of IJO Certificate 2023
Title: Comparison of glaucomatous from non-glaucomatous optic neuropathy using Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width optical coherence tomography measurements. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug;71(8):3005-3009.
(Karthik M Kumar, A K Karan, Veerappan R Saravanan, Virna M Shah.)

Aravind-Pondicherry

Dr. Harsha, DNB resident won the Dr. Narsing Rao award & Best paper in Uvea titled, The Sarcoidosis-Tuberculosis conundrum: The role of serum ACE, Mantoux test and Lymphocyte count.

Dr. Balraj, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology, won the Best free paper award in Neuro Ophthalmology titled, Proficiency assessment of trained vision centre technicians in Neuro-Ophthalmology disease screening and he was the winner of AIOC FAICO Gold Medal 2024 in Neuro Ophthalmology.

Dr. Indira Pegu, Fellow – Glaucoma services has won the C S Reshmi Award for the best video of the year titled, DIY for Glaucoma Procedures- Practice Makes a Doctor Perfect!.

Dr. Naveen R, Medical Consultant, Cornea & Refractive surgery services, secured the top 16 in the C S Reshmi Award for the best video of the year titled, Pythium keratitis vs Fungal keratitis.

Dr. Kaavya, DNB  Resident was the winner in the Poster Podium Presentation in the Cataract category titled, Intra-operative complications in high volume cataract surgery: A quartile-wise analysis.

Dr. Hari Bhadari, DNB Resident was the winner in the Poster Podium Presentation at the Community Ophthalmology category titled, Environmental Sustainability of Outreach & Telemedicine at a Tertiary Eyecare Centre in South India.

Dr. Kulharsh B. Jaiswal, Medical Consultant, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services won the AIOC 2024 – FIFA Award at Cornea category.

Dr. V.R. Vivekanandan, Chief, Cataract-General Ophthalmology Services won the AIOC 2024 – FIFA Award at the Cataract category.

Dr. Prabhu Krishna, Medical Consultant won the AIOC 2024 – FIFA Award Runner-up in the General Ophthalmology category.

Dr. Shagufa Jamal, Medical Consultant won 2^nd Price in the AIOC 2024 Quiz Competition.

The following doctors were honoured with AIOS International Ophthalmic Heroes of India award.

• Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer
• Dr. K. Veena, Chief, Paediatric Ophthalmology
• Dr. S. Kavitha, Chief, Glaucoma Services
• Dr. Swati Upadhaya, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma
• Dr. V.R. Vivekanandan, Chief, Cataract
• Dr. Shivraj, Fellow, Retina
• Dr. Apurva, Fellow, Cornea

Aravind-Chennai

Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, Cataract Services
International Ophthalmic Heroes of Indian Award for Best paper of Cataract session at American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, November 2023

Dr. Prabu Baskaran, Medical Consultant
IJO Recognition Certificate for Peer review

Dr. Aditya Maitray, Medical Consultant
Best Poster Podium Presentation
Title: AI-Powered smartphone fundus camera: Advancing referable AMD screening

Dr. Puja Maitra, Medical Consultant

• Best Physical Poster
  Title: Pole to pole imaging: Economising paediatric ocular imaging by DIY devices  

• International Ophthalmic Heroes Award for Certificate of Achievement from Harvard Medical School
  Title: HMX-pro- genetics essentials and genetic testing and sequencing technologies

Hyderabad, 2^nd March

Aravind doctors won prizes at the 2nd Incubator Start-up Challenge 2024, held at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. Dr. Shivraj Tagare, Retina Fellow, and Dr. Megha Nair, Cornea Fellow, both from Aravind-Pondicherry, secured first prize for their project I-Verter at the AIOS Eye Invent Hackathon. Additionally, Dr. Shivam Gupta, Glaucoma Fellow, Aravind-Tirunelveli, secured the second prize for his project SL90DH – Slit Lamp 90D Holder in the AIOS Eye Invent Hackathon category.

Bali, Indonesia, 22-25 February

Dr. Meghana Tanwar, Medical Consultant, Orbit, Aravind-Madurai was among the three ophthalmologists awarded the APAO International fellowship for the year 2022-23 at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress, held at Bali, Indonesia.   This award is bestowed upon promising ophthalmologists annually, particularly from developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region, to enhance their clinical skills, surgical exposure, and research experience, and broaden their perspectives in ophthalmology. Dr. Meghana completed her fellowship at the Osaka Medical University Hospital, Oska, Japan, from April to June 2023, under the guidance of Dr. Y. Kitaguchi. She was presented with the award during the congress.

Additionally, Dr. R. Madhavi, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli, received the prestigious “Professor Yasuo Tano” Travel grant.

10-16 March

Aravind-Tirunelveli

In observance of World Glaucoma Week at Aravind-Tirunelveli, a series of activities were conducted to raise glaucoma awareness.
A human chain programme was held in front of the hospital, graced by the presence of Venkatesh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli, and Dr. N. Subramanian, President, the Indian Medical Association, Tirunelveli Branch.
A glaucoma awareness exhibition for the public was inaugurated by Thiru. Venkatesh and Dr. N. Subramanian. The exhibition featured informative posters detailing various types of glaucoma, its causes, symptoms, and hereditary factors. Furthermore, a press conference was organised, and informational pamphlets and notices were distributed among the public.
Moreover, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, and Dr. Mohideen Abdul Kadar, Chief, Retina Vitreous, Aravind-Tirunelveli, delivered talks on glaucoma awareness via All India Radio, broadcasted throughout the week.
In addition, a mega glaucoma camp was held at Aravind-Kovilpatti on 6th March. During the camp, 452 patients underwent screenings, resulting in the identification of 38 new cases of glaucoma, while 78 individuals were recommended for cataract surgery.

Aravind-Tirupati

As part of World Glaucoma Week, an exhibition was organised at Aravind-Tirupati, aimed at raising awareness about preventable vision conditions. Queries were addressed by MLOPs, emphasising the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The exhibition facilitated understanding of glaucoma’s early symptoms, the tubular vision and its occurrence, encouraging attendees to undergo eye check-ups. Additionally, the District Medical & Health Officer visited the hospital, and delivered an awareness speech on glaucoma diagnosis and treatment to patients. Family screenings for glaucoma were conducted, and a screening camp was held at Zoopark, Tirupati.

8^th March

Across all Aravind centres, the Women’s day was celebrated with enthusiasm, featuring a range of events such as special talks, physical fitness activities, Kolam competitions, and various fun games. The festivities made the day a memorable occasion, honouring and empowering women in the workplace.

Aravind-Madurai

Several Women’s Day activities were organised at Aravind-Madurai, including a special talk by Bathmavathi, Sub-Inspector of Police, Madurai, and Selvi Rani, Brahma Kumari. Additionally, various physical fitness activities were arranged for all female employees at LAICO.

Aravind-Tirunelveli

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised talks on the theme “Inspire Inclusion,” featuring three guests: Benazir Fathima, Entrepreneur and home baker; Valli, an auto driver; and Sornam, an Entrepreneur, beautician, and artist. They shared real-life examples of life challenges and spoke on how they overcame them to achieve success.

Aravind-Coimbatore

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Aravind-Coimbatore hosted a session on “Holistic Health for Today’s Women” in collaboration with the Adolescent Health Academy (AHA) of Tamil Nadu and the Coimbatore branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP). The event commenced with Dr. Sandra Ganesh introducing the esteemed speakers, and Dr. Lakshmi Shanthi, President, IAP, presiding over the proceedings. Dr. Jeyashree Ashwathi, Secretary, AHA, Tamil Nadu, delivered an insightful talk on “Reproductive Health”, followed by Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Treasurer, AHA & Vice President, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Kanyakumari, who provided valuable insights on nutrition and fitness. Lastly, Dr. Mohammed Ismail, Director, the Adolescent Health Academy, Tamil Nadu, delivered a special lecture on “Coping with Stress in Daily Life”.

Aravind-Pondicherry

Aravind-Pondicherry observed International Women’s Day with special talks and engaging games. A highlight of the day was a special pattimandram chaired by Karpagambal, a recipient of the Dr. Radhakrishnan Best Teacher award, making it a memorable occasion. The day was further enriched by a captivating speech from Dr. A. Muthamma, I.A.S., who shared her invaluable experiences on women empowerment across various fields.

Aravind-Tirupati

At Aravind-Tirupati, Women’s Day was celebrated with an Art from Waste competition themed “Celebrating Women”. Sasi Bindu Garu, a lawyer and external member of the Internal Complaints Committee, as the chief guest, delivered a talk emphasising steps towards creating an inclusive workplace. The programme concluded with a quiz competition organised by Aurosambaralu.

Aravind-Dindigul, 2^nd March

Organised by Aravind-Dindigul with the support of Aravind-Madurai, 50 smart vision glasses were provided to beneficiaries at Aravind Eye Hospital, Dindigul, as part of Project Drishti. This initiative was made possible through collaboration with the Rotary Club, Madras East and a donation from JM Frictech India.

Dr. Rekha, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Dindigul, delivered a warm welcome address, followed by a felicitation address by Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi, Senior Medical Consultant, Vision Rehabilitation Centre, Aravind-Madurai. Dr. R. Vigneshwar, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Dindigul was present during the occasion. Jeyaseeli Flora, Vision Rehabilitationist, and Muthuramalingam from the Refraction Department, Aravind-Madurai, coordinated the event.

Aravind-Theni, 26^th February

Aravind-Theni opened the Low Vision Clinic, a small initiative primarily focused on adult rehabilitation. Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi,  Dr. Datta, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Theni, and Jeyaseeli Flora, inaugurated the clinic. On the opening day, approximately 10 patients visited the clinic and received counselling about various Low Vision Aids and their benefits.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 26^th February

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, and Dr. Meenakshi, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli, jointly inaugurated the fully automated Selectra ProM machine at the biochemistry lab.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 25^th February

Aravind-Pondicherry celebrated its hospital day in a grand manner. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. R. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai. Dr. Naveen presented the annual report, highlighting a 2% increase in the annual patient turnout. Dr. R. Kim, and Dr. R. Venkatesh, CMO, Aravind-Pondicherry, gave the service awards, recognising the dedicated service of staff members completing 10, 20, and 30 years of experience.

Dr. S. Kavitha, Chief, Glaucoma Services, was awarded first prize, while Dr. Manavi D. Sindal, Chief, Retina-Vitrous Services, and Dr. Josephine Christy, Chief, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services, received second prize for their research activities. Furthermore, Dr. Nandita and Dr. Ojus were honoured with the “Inspiring Innovators Award” for their creation of the device “UVlyser”, securing the third position. The celebration also featured cultural performances, including dances by the children of doctors, dance by MLOPs, a musical fusion by doctors, and a mesmerising shadow art display.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 22^nd February

Eral Vision Centre has been shifted to a new building following damages incurred by recent floods at the previous location. A small inaugural ceremony was held, graced by the presence of several dignitaries, including Sundar, Secretary, Trade Union; Arunachalam, Association Treasurer, Lions Club & Trade; Dharmara, Vice President, Trade Union; Sudalaimuthu, a Trade Union Member; Mahalakshmi, Ward Councillor; Sivabalan, a local businessman; and the community members. Representatives from Aravind-Tirunelveli, including Dr. Jaisri Priya, Dr. Karthikeyan, and Shanmuga Sundari, Clinical Manager, Vision Centres, Raja Sathya Selvi, Nursing Superintendent, Saradha, Patient Care Manager, Stephen, Vision Centre Coordinator, and Natarajan, Electrician, actively managed the event.

Aravind-Tirupati, 24^th February

As part of the “My Life My Pride” initiative spearheaded by G. Krishna Veni, Administrator, LAICO, MLOPs have been undergoing training in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Taekwondo and dance. After completing two months of training, and following a grading exam for the yellow belt on 4^th February, a certificate award ceremony was held on 24^th February. Anupama, who conducts life skill classes for the MLOPs, and Dr. Ashok Vardhan, CMO, Aravind-Tirupati, distributed the certificates and yellow belts. Sangeetha, Nursing Superintendent, provided an overview of the MLOP committees such as wellness, hostel, academic, and My Life My Pride as well as their responsibilities. This approach fosters a sense of shared ownership between management and MLOPs, symbolised by badges, offering a sense of pride. During the feedback session, several MLOPs shared how the “My Life My Pride” programme has significantly boosted their self-confidence, empowering them to feel bolder when travelling alone. The event also featured captivating performances by both the dance and Taekwondo students.

Aravind-Tirupati, 23^rd February

In an on-going effort to train MLOPs and raise awareness about the importance of spectacles and proper medication usage among both the public and staff, the optical and pharmacy departments collaborated to organise a one-day exhibition. The exhibition attracted patients and staff, who expressed their appreciation for the team’s initiatives.

Aravind-Madurai, 22^nd February

Aravind-Madurai organised Angaadi, a unique charity event where all employees donated their unused items. These items were categorised and sold at different stalls, creating a fun shopping experience exclusively for hospital employees. Additionally, auctions, fun games, and food stalls were arranged. The funds raised through the sale of these items were donated to Adaikalam Old Age Home, Tirunagar, Madurai, and Blessed Special Kids Home, Vilangudi, Madurai.

Aravind-Salem, 22^nd February

Boomi Pooja ceremony for the new hospital building and quarters in Aravind-Salem took place, graced by the presence of esteemed guests including Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, R.D. Thulasiraj, Executive Director, LAICO, Dr. S. Aravind, CMO, Aravind-Chennai, and the senior leadership team. The new building, spanning 2.25 lakh sq. ft., will be constructed on a 7-acre plot of land. Dr. B. Manohar Babu, CMO, Aravind-Salem, thanked the senior leadership team for expediting the project, which is expected to be completed within 1.5 years in 2026.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 18^th February

The one-day Retina4U CME organised by Aravind-Pondicherry, focusing on Intravitreal injections, was led by Dr. Manavi D. Sindal,  Dr. Sivaranjani, Retina Consultant, and the organising committee. The event was graced by Dr. Hannah, Consultant, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science, Dr. Roshini Mohan, Retina Consultant, Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chennai, Dr. Nagesha, Retina Consultant, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, and Dr. Sivaranjani.

The programme commenced with the welcome address by Dr. R. Venkatesh, followed by ceremonial lamp lighting. The conference featured talks by speakers from leading institutes and internal speakers including, Dr. Manavi D Sindal, Dr. Prabu Baskaran, Dr. Sivaranjani, and Dr. Preet Kanwar Singh Sodhi. A wide spectrum of topics in Intravitreal injections such as retinal vascular disorder, age-related macular degeneration, inflammations, and infections including the intravitreal injection technique were discussed in detail. A total of 117 participants comprising ophthalmologists, fellows, and postgraduates from various colleges attended the CME.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 18^th February

The 5^th edition of the CME on “Dry labs for postgraduates” organised by Aravind-Coimbatore saw the participation of 190 delegates from 36 institutions from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. The delegates were divided into nine groups and rotated to nine stations namely cornea, glaucoma, retina 1, retina 2, neuro-ophthalmology, squint, orbit, retinoscopy and electrophysiological studies. There were 12 mentors guiding 20 faculty members, and conducting the dry labs. A booklet with 17 write-ups was given to the delegates. Dr. V. Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore, was the chairperson of the organising committee and Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, Consultant & NABH Coordinator as well as Dr. Parag Shah, Chief, Paediatric Retina & Ocular Oncology Services were the coordinators. The Programme was accredited with two hours for delegates and three hours for faculty by the Tamil Nadu Medical Council.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 17^th February

Aravind-Tirunelveli celebrated its 36th Hospital day with great jubilation. Esteemed guests Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Dr. G. Natchiar, R.D. Thulasiraj, and Chitra Thulasiraj, Aravind Communications,  graced the occasion.

The programme commenced with a prayer song by Nandhini. Dr. R. Meenakshi welcomed the gathering. Dr. Sherin Haroon, Medical consultant, presented the activity report for the year 2022-2023. During the occasion, a milestone video showcasing Aravind-Tirunelveli’s journey was screened. Dr. R. Ramakrishnan delivered a special address, and Jagatheesan, a well-wisher of Aravind Eye Hospital, shared his journey with Aravind.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy and Dr. G. Natchiar delivered motivational speeches, leaving a lasting impact on all present. Service Awards were given to staff members, acknowledging their dedication and contributions. The event was further adorned with cultural programmes performed by doctors and MLOPs. Dr. R. Madhavi, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services delivered the vote of thanks. Lakshmi R, HR Manager, led the proceedings as the master of the ceremony. The delightful evening concluded with dinner.

Madurai, 13^th February

Conducted by the Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank (RAIEB), Aravind-Madurai, the session took place at the Primary Health Centre in Kannagudi, Sivagangai. D. Saravanan, Manager, RAIEB, led the session focusing on the Hospital cornea retrieval programme and highlighting the significance of healthcare professionals in promoting eye donation. The session saw active participation from 40 attendees, including doctors and nurses.

Aravind-Madurai, 9^th February

Aravind inaugurated its 112th vision centre in Samayanallur, Madurai, with the ceremony officiated by Dr. Usha Kim, Regional HR Director, Aravind-Madurai.

The event witnessed the esteemed presence of Dr. A. Kowsalya, Doctor In charge, Madurai Vision Centre, and Dr. Priyagini, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, Saikat Palit, Project Coordinator, Seva Foundation, along with the community members including, Tambi Durai, Panchayat President, Samayanallur, Bagavath Singh, Trade Union President, Vivagananthan, Camp Sponsor, and Murugesan, Camp Organisers.

Under the coordination of Begam, MLOP HR Coordinator, alongside Jhansi, Pitchaimeena, and Aathi Parasakthi from the vision centre team, the event was effectively managed. Kalai Selvi, VC Coordinator from Sholavanthan Vision Centre, will provide mentorship and assistance to the new VC staff during their initial week. On the opening day, the centre attended to 67 patients, with 5 referred for cataract surgery, 10 prescribed eyeglasses, and 5 placing orders for glasses.

AMRF, 29^th February

As an integral component of the SERB-LHON project, AMRF organised a one-day research facility training programme on Genetic testing techniques as part of the scientific social responsibility programme (SERB-SSR). The programme consisted of two modules: the first covering DNA isolation and quantitation, and the second focusing on Sanger sequencing. Dr. P. Sundaresan, the Principal Investigator and Convenor of the programme, elucidated the fundamentals of ophthalmic genetics and its application in molecular diagnosis. In his concluding remarks, Prof. K. Dharmalingam, Director, Research, AMRF, emphasised the significance of epigenetics and its implications on human diseases. Thereafter, certificates were distributed to all the participants by Prof. K. Dharmalingam. The programme saw active participation from 30 students representing 14 different colleges in the vicinity of Madurai, spanning across 8 distinct academic departments.

Kolkata, 14-17 March

Aurolab’s team participated in the 82nd Annual Conference of AIOC 2024 and got their stalls with increased brand visibility, showcasing their products. The stall attracted more than 1400 visitors.
Moreover, Aurolab launched the following new products:

• Falcon-i: Ophthalmologists can step into the future of surgical visualization with Falcon-i, featuring excellent optics and exceptional clarity.
• Aurolab Essence: This high-performance aspheric advanced monofocal technology IOL provides expanded vision and clarity from intermediate to distance sight.
• Retisil 1500 PFS: Offering unparalleled clarity, consistent performance, and enhanced safety with ease of use.
• Aurolab i-Ring: Engineered to save surgery time and simplify the intraocular implantation of CTR.

Additionally, Aurolab organised a Wet Lab Training programme for doctors, held for four days.
During the conference, Aurolab showcased its products in scientific sessions featuring presentations by medical experts. Dr. Amit Kiran Mahajan discussed on Aurolab essence: Essential choice for optimal outcomes, while Dr. Upsham Goel spoke on Falcon-i.

Aurolab, 13^th February

Aurolab organised a training session on “How to protect our environment” for all employees. Dr. Sailesh Rao, Founder & Executive Director, Climate Healers, handled the session, creating awareness on how to solve climate change with a vegan diet.

LAICO, 1-2 March

A two-day workshop on Continuous Process Improvement for Achieving Operational Excellence was conducted with the main focus on developing processes to foster a culture of continuous improvement within AECS, enhancing operational efficiency, and achieving excellence. The workshop further aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in identifying problems and opportunities for improvement, determining root causes for delays and errors, deriving ideas through a systematic journey to test and implement them across AECS. B.S. Ganesh Babu, Senior Faculty, LAICO coordinated the entire event. Vadamalaiappan and Rajasekar from Aurolab served as resource persons for the programme. Sessions included group work, a visit to Aurolab, and discussions on TPM. A total of 51 participants from all Aravind centres, including managers from various departments, supervisors, nursing superintendents, senior sisters, and administrators, attended the programme.

Aurangabad, 20-24 February
As part of the Manpower Management Development Programme (MMDP), D. Yesunesan, Senior Faculty, LAICO, conducted a comprehensive visit to Aurangabad Chikalthana LIONS Eye Hospital, Aurangabad. This visit served as a needs assessment to better understand the hospital and identify potential areas for growth. During this visit, Dr. Kuldeep Dhole, Technical Advisor, LIONS Club International Foundation, also joined the team on 24th February, providing valuable insights for the assessment.

Looking ahead, the team is scheduled to visit LAICO for a vision-building exercise from 22-28 March, 2024. This initiative aims to further strengthen the strategic direction and goals of the organisation.

Odisha, 21-23 February
As part of the LEAP Collaborative Series, A. Syed Ali, Senior Faculty, LAICO, and Mohammed Ghouse, Manager, Patient Care, Aravind-Tuticorin, visited the Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Institute, Odisha. The objective of their visit was to provide recommendations for enhancing compliance with NABH standards and to conduct an audit of the facility according to these standards.

Odisha, 19-20 February
As part of the Manpower Management Development Programme (MMDP), A. Syed Ali visited the Balasore Lions Eye Hospital in Balasore District, Odisha. The objective of the visit was to engage with the hospital team, gain insights into their operations and systems, know their needs, and identify potential areas for growth. Looking ahead, the hospital team is scheduled to visit LAICO for a vision-building and strategic planning exercise from -28 March.

Gujarat, 5-8 February
Mohammed Gowth, Senior Faculty, LAICO, and Chandravadhana, Manager, Quality & Patient care, Aravind-Madurai, visited the Rotary Eye Institute in Navsari, Gujarat, as part of the LEAP Collaborative series to fulfill NABH standards. The purpose of the visit was to initiate the application process for NABH accreditation.

Aravind-Chennai, 2-3 February

Aravind-Chennai organised the NABH ECO Training Programme conducted by the Central team for NABH Compliance Monitoring. The primary objective was to provide staff members with an orientation to NABH ECO requirements and train them to monitor adherence to standards and execute quality standards in their respective hospitals. Key internal resource persons included Dr. D. Chandrasekar, Dr. Sivakumar, Dr. Marie Frederick Mouttappa, Dr. Jayashree, Dr. Sathya Ravilla, and R. Ushalini. The training programme provided a common platform for communication and learning towards on-going quality improvement. A total of 67 staff members from across all Aravind centres, including doctors, managers, coordinators, MLOPs, and staff nurses, attended the training.

USA, 2-7 March

Dr. Virna M. Shah, Medical Consultant. Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind- Coimbatore, and Dr. Jayasri, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind- Madurai, attended the Annual Meeting of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) held in Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. This event continues to be the premier meeting for cutting-edge innovation and advances in Neuro-Ophthalmology, providing a forum for everyone to come together from across the globe to share expertise and advance the field of Neuro-Ophthalmology through case discussions, didactic sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. During the meeting, they presented the following physical posters.

Bali, Indonesia, 22-25 February

Several doctors from Aravind participated and assumed various roles, including instructor, chair, and presenter, during the 39th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress, held in conjunction with the 49th PERDAMI, or the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (IOA), at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Indonesia.

Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Chief, Cornea Services, Aravind-Madurai
–  Advances in Diagnosis of Fungal Keratitis
–  AI in Infectious Keratitis

Dr. Sahithya Bhaskaran, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai
–  Impact of online vision therapy on functional vision of children with multiple disabilities (Poster presentation)
–  Referral uptake and outcomes in children referred to tertiary eye care from school eye screening (Free paper presentation)
–  Smart vision glasses (Video presentation)

Dr. Nithya Sridharan, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai
–  Study on acceptance of low vision aids and visual rehabilitation measures in tertiary care center (e-poster)

Dr. Meghana Tanwar, Medical Consultant, Orbit, Aravind-Madurai
–  Globe salvage in Panophthalmitis: Identification of significant predictive factors using logistic regression and Fine-Gray models.

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Chief, Glaucom Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
–  A battle well prepared is half won pre op evaluation ,intra op measures to prevent failure (Co-instructor)

Dr. Devendra Maheshwari, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
–  Repeat Trabeculectomy and post resurrection bleb care (Co-instructor)
–  Modified ab-interno sulcus placement of non-valved drainage implant tube-early outcomes of a novel technique (Physical Poster)

Dr. R. Madhavi
–  The quandary of a failing bleb: Strike when the bleb is hot (Chair and chief instructor)
–  Catch it early: Role of AS-OCT in failing bleb & future of OCT angiography (Speaker)
–  Outcomes of bleb needling with high dose (40μg) injectable subconjunctival mitomycin C in failing or failed blebs (Physical Poster)
–  Ocular Imaging – Evaluation of Microvascular changes and optic nerve head perfusion following Trabeculectomy: An optical coherence tomography angiography(OCT-A) study (Rapid Fire Paper presentation)

Dr. Nimrita Nagdev, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
–  Early interventions: Ocular massage, suturolysis, add on injections of MMC/5FU- when & how? (Co instructor)
–  Glaucoma Update (Rapid Fire Paper presentation)
–  Deroofing the narrow road by magnifying mirror: Gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) (Video presentation)

Dr. Madhavi, Dr. Geethu Kurian, Dr. Mohideen Abdul Kader, Medical Consultants, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
–  Outcomes of bleb needling with High dose(40µg) injectable subconjunctival MMC in failing or failed blebs (Poster presentation)

Dr. Elackiya, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai
–  An outreach school screening model for functional vision assessment in children with disabilities (Poster presentation)

Dr. R. Ram Sudarshan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Kovilpatti
–  Demographics, clinical, microbiological profile and treatment outcomes of traumatic endophthalmitis in paediatric population in south India (Poster presentation)

Dr. Harinikrishna Balakrishnan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Kovilpatti
–  Correlation of mantoux test and serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels with clinically and radiologically diagnosed ocular tuberculosis and ocular sarcoidosis (Poster presentation)

Dr. Sameer Chaudhary, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Dindigul
–  Blindness due to the third eye Sudden vision loss in Pineal gland tumour (Poster presentation)

Dr. Chinmay Mahatme, & Dr. Siddharth Narendran, Medical Consultants, Aravind-Coimbatore
–  Predicting outcomes in fungal keratitis using RidMyc CRISPR assay (Paper presentation)

Dr. Chinmay Mahatme, Dr. Virna Shah, Dr. Karthik Kumar, & Dr. Madhurima Kaushik, Medical Consultants, Aravind-Coimbatore
–  Optic NEWritis challenges in Indian scenario (Physical poster – Neuro-ophthalmology)

Dr. Chinmay Mahatme, Dr. R. Revathi, & Dr. P. Mangala, Medical Consultants, Aravind-Coimbatore
–  Delayed melt post C3R case series (Physical Poster – Cornea)