Editorial

Every member of Aravind continue to walk the path laid by its founders, even in their absence. The passing of Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, (Dr. P.N.) Chairman Emeritus of Aravind Eye Care System, created a deep void. Yet, after a brief period of mourning, the Aravind family began reflecting on his remarkable achievements and cherishing the evergreen memories of their beloved leader.

A week after the funeral, staff across all Aravind centres observed a memorial service to honour and celebrate the life of Dr. P.N. During the service, they shared their experiences and the valuable lessons they had learned from him. Doctors, administrative staff, and even children from the crèche offered flowers in tribute to Dr. P.N.

Despite this difficult time, patient services at all centres continued uninterrupted. A new MRD facility was inaugurated at Aravind–Theni to ease congestion in the OPD and ensure more efficient use of available space.

In addition, residents from Aravind–Madurai visited several government schools, spreading awareness about eye care and distributing educational kits to selected students as part of the Resident Social Responsibility (RSR) programme. These initiatives further promote preventive care in eye-related issues.

This edition features news of these activities and many more that took place between 15th July 2025 and 15th August 2025.

Recognitions and Achievements

Elected Members of TNOA from Aravind

Two Aravind doctors have been elected as office bearers of the Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association (TNOA) for the 2025–2028 term.

Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, Consultant & Lead for NABH Compliance, AECS, Aravind–Coimbatore, was elected as the Honorary General Secretary of TNOA, while Dr. Divya Manohar, Chief, Cataract, Cornea & Refractive Services, Aravind–Thanjavur, was elected as a Managing Committee Member.

Winning an awards at the 72nd Annual Conference of Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association (TNOA) & Pondicherry Ophthalmologists’ Association – CHERRYCON 2025

Pondicherry, 1-3 August 2025

Dr. Muthukrishnan V, Medical Consultant, Retina Services

  • TNOA TOPS Award Free paper Retina I
  • TNOA TOPS Award Free paper Retina (Overall)
  • Nominated for TNOA Prof. C.P Gupta Award Free Paper finalists (Best of Best)
    Title: Paediatric Endogenous Endophthalmitis: Analysis of clinical spectrum and outcomes in 32 eyes

Dr. Sivadarshan, Medical Consultant, Retina Services

  • TNOA TOPS Award Free paper Retina II
    Title: Chronic myeloid leukemia and diabetes: A dangerous synergy for proliferative retinopathy

Dr. Sahithya Bhaskaran, Medical consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Services

  • 3rd Place in Shark Tank for Innovation: Percepto – CVI screening App

Dr. Sabarinath A., Medical Officer, General Ophthalmology Services

  • Best Poster Podium in Glaucoma Session
    Title: A deep dive into childhood glaucoma

Dr. Mounika P., Medical Officer, General Ophthalmology Services

  • Best Poster Podium in Cataract Session
    Title: Navigating cataract surgery in Post-RK eyes

Dr. Sameer Chaudhary, Medical Officer, General Ophthalmology Services

  • TNOA Captain Subramanian Video Award Session
    Title: Haptic heartbreak: IOL exchange following haptic fracture in posterior polar cataract

Dr. Aravind Krishna V.P., MS Resident

  • Best Poster Podium Presentation in Orbit & Oculoplasty Session
    Title: Echoes from the past: Late recurrence of retinoblastoma

Dr. Evangeline D., MS Resident

  • Best free paper Neuro- Ophthalmology – 1
    Title: Optic neuritis associated with Myelin Oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody: A case series

 Dr. Gopikrishna, MS Resident

  • Best Photograph Non-Ophthalmology category

 Aravind-Tirunelveli

Dr. Anupama Janardhanam, Medical Consultant, Paediatric & Strabismus Services

  • TNOA Prof. C. P. Gupta Award for Best of Best Free Paper
    Title: Clinical and demographic study of Posterior Deformational Plagiocephaly (PDP) in paediatric patients
  • TNOA Dr. M.R.S Ramakrishnan Award for Best Free Paper in Paediatric Ophthalmology & TNOA Best Poster Podium Presentation Retina-1 Session
    Title: Paediatric Vascular Occlusions Due to Protein C and S Deficiency

Dr. Diviyan Abraham, Medical Consultant

Best Poster Podium in Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Title: Blinded by the blades: A case of bilateral ocular trauma following drone injury

Aravind-Coimbatore

Dr. Krutin Jugal Shah, DNB Resident

  • TNOA Best Free Paper in Comprehensive and Community Ophthalmology
    Title: Uncovering gaps in cluster fungal endophthalmitis: A multi-centre case series
  • CHERRYCON Best Paper in Neuro Ophthalmology
    Title: Role of interventional radiology in neuro ophthalmology

Aravind-Chennai

Dr. Lakshana M.L., Medical officer, General Ophthalmology Services

  • CHERRYCON Best Paper of the Session – Comprehensive Ophthalmology
    Title: Distance sensitive retinoscopy with ultrasonic sensor for enhanced accuracy

Dr. Debolina Deb, Medical Consultant, Retina Services

  • Best Poster Podium Presentation (Retina Session)
    Title: Oguchi Disease in Indian patients: Imaging the Elusive Mizuo phenomenon

31st Annual Meeting of ARVO-India 2025

Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, 26–27 July 2025

Gopika S Kumar
Young Investigator Award
Title: Pigmentation loss reflects EMT and functional decline in iPSC-derived RPE cells (Oral presentation)

Dharsini Nandakumar
Young Investigator Award
Title: Prospective evaluation of RID-MYC assay for POC diagnosis and clinical management in smear and culture-negative keratitis with IVCM correlation (Oral presentation)

Shivasankari
Travel Fellowship

Gopika S. Kumar receiving the Young Investigator Award

Doctor's Day Awards at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Meeting

Tirunelveli, 20th July 2025

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind–Tirunelveli, and Dr. R. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Aravind–Tirunelveli, were honoured with Doctor’s Day Awards by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) at a special function held at Hotel Apple Tree, Tirunelveli.

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan being honoured with the Doctors’ Day Award at the IMA meeting
Doctors’ Day Award presented to Dr. R. Meenakshi

An Award at the 9th Annual Conference of the Indian Retinopathy of Prematurity (iROP) Society

Jaipur, 19-20 July 2025

Dr. Vignesh Elamurugan, Medical Consultant, Retina-Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai, won Second Prize in the New Ideas for ROP Research (Rapid Fire) category for his research, at the 9th Annual Conference of the Indian Retinopathy of Prematurity (iROP) Society, held under the aegis of the Jaipur Ophthalmological Society in Jaipur.
Title: Topical Application of Ringer’s Lactate for Phase 1 ROP

Aravind Events

Joint Art Exhibition (Perumal Da & Manohar Devadoss)

Aravind-Madurai, 12-16 August 2025

In remembrance of artists Perumal Da and Manohar Devadoss, whose birthdays fall in August and September respectively, Aravind has been celebrating their legacies through exhibitions under the theme “Art that Inspires.” The exhibition focused on engaging school children, college students, and the public, encouraging them to appreciate artworks that celebrate Madurai’s notable monuments and capture the beauty of nature. The exhibition was inaugurated by Ariaravelan, Aparajitha Foundations, Prof. Prabahar Vedamanickam, former professor, The American College, Madurai, Artist Ravi Palette, and Artist Ramanan. Dr. Satish Devarajan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Salem, conducted art classes for the students.

The event drew around 300 students from ten schools, three colleges, and three service organisations, along with members of the public. Activities included drawing competitions and interactive sessions with renowned artists, where students participated with great enthusiasm. AOPs from Aravind-Madurai and Tirupati also participated in the event. The winners of the drawing competition were felicitated during the valedictory ceremony on the final day.

Ariaravelan inaugurating the art exhibition
Ceremonial lamp lighting during the inaugural of the art exhibition of Perumal Da and Manohar Devadoss
Syed Ali A. anchoring the inaugural of the art exhibition
School children viewing artworks at the art exhibition
School children participating in the drawing competition
Artist Ramanan interacting with school children about the world of comics
Chitra Thulasiraj sharing her association with Artist Perumal Da and Manohar Devadoss
Artist Ravi Palette presenting prize and certificate to participant of the drawing competition

Workshop on Enhancing Teaching Skills

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 12th August 2025

As part of Employee Engagement activities, a workshop on “Enhancing Teaching Skills for Trainers and Enhancing Learning Skills for Trainees” was organised for AOP employees and trainees at Aravind-Tirunelveli.

The session began with a welcome address by Lakshmi R, Manager–HR, Aravind-Tirunelveli, who also introduced the speaker. Gayathri Badrinarayanan, Founder of Envision – The Mind Studio, and a Coach, Master, and Practitioner of Graphotherapy, led the workshop. Through games and practice activities, she helped participants understand the concepts better and made the session more interactive. By sharing relevant healthcare examples and situations, she ensured the session was both informative and engaging.

Gayathri Badrinarayanan leading the session
Participants of the workshop on Enhancing Teaching Skills

Smart Vision Glass Pro Distribution Programme

Aravind-Madurai, 14th August 2025

Aravind-Madurai organised a programme where 30 Smart Vision Glasses (SVGs) were given to beneficiaries. The recipients also received digital training on how to use the devices.

The event was graced by Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, (AECS), Dr. Vijayalakshmi, Chief, Paediatric Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. Sahithya, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, and Francis Vijay, Advisory Director, Vision Aid. Dr. Vijayalakshmi and Francis Vijay distributed the SVGs, explained their features, and encouraged beneficiaries to share their experiences with friends and families who might benefit from the glasses.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 23rd July 2025

Organised for the fourth time by Aravind-Tirunelveli, this initiative provided 59 Smart Vision Glass Pro (SVG Pro) devices to patients with severe visual impairments through the Vision Rehabilitation Centre, sponsored by Vision Aid.

The event began with Dr. R. Meenakshi, delivering the welcome address, and Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, presenting a talk on the various AECS’s activities. Janani Sankaran from Vision Aid spoke about the organisation’s CSR initiatives. Beneficiaries Siva Perumal and Muthu Nayagaraj shared their heartfelt feedback and Venkatesan, played the song “ஒவ்வொரு பூக்களுமே சொல்கிறதே” on the keyboard. During the post-lunch session, Ibrahim, an AI Engineer from Smart Health Global, Bengaluru, assisted in registering the devices to the beneficiaries’ smartphones and trained them on using the various features of the SVG Pro.

Dr. Sahithya Baskaran addressing the attendees of the SVG distribution programme
Dr. R. D. Ravindran distributing the SVG Pro Glasses to a beneficiary, in the presence of Dr. Vijayalakshmi
Beneficiary with Dr. R. D. Ravindran, Dr. Vijayalakshmi, and the Low Vision team of Aravind-Madurai
Ceremonial lamp lighting during the occasion
Janani Sankaran from Vision Aid presenting their organisation’s CSR initiatives
Vision Aid team presenting the SVG Pro Glasses to a beneficiary
Beneficiaries with the newly received SVG Pro Glasses

CME programme on GLOW - Glaucoma Learning & Outreach for Wellbeing

Aravind-Madurai, 9th August 2025,

Conducted by Aravind–Madurai, the CME aimed to support private practitioners in developing into glaucoma specialists. The programme featured a series of lectures on the basics of glaucoma, along with observation of patient investigative procedures. It also included scientific sessions with active and meaningful interactions between participants and faculty. A total of 50 participants, including faculty from Aravind, took part in this CME.

Dr. S. R. Krishnadas presenting on Glaucoma overview and IOP
Dr. Manju R. Pillai presenting on Communication with patients
Observation of patient investigative procedures
Participants of the CME programme on GLOW – Glaucoma Learning & Outreach for Wellbeing

The Resident Social Responsibility (RSR)

Aravind-Madurai, 7-8 August 2025

As part of the RSR programme held on 7th August 2025 at Kakaipandiniyar Girls Higher Secondary School, Madurai, residents along with members from Suvadugal, conducted various activities. The session began with Backiyaraj delivering an awareness talk and Dr. Tejshivani presented an informative and motivating session on eye health and hygiene, women’s health, and self-belief. Following this, Kavitha, the head of Suvadugal, spoke on women’s empowerment and the role of financial stability in achieving independence. At the end of the session, 15 girls from the 10th and 11th standards were given school kits containing notebooks, a pen kit, tiffin box, water bottle, and a set of uniform. Similarly on 8th August 2025 at Vellivethiyar Girls Higher Secondary School, a team of six DNB residents, conducted an awareness programme. Dr. Vidhya delivered an engaging talk on general eye care and personal hygiene.  School kits were then distributed to 20 students who had lost one or both parents.

Dr. Tejshivani presenting on eye health, hygiene, women’s health, and self-belief as part of the RSR programme at Kakaipandiniyar Girls Higher Secondary School, Madurai
Residents presenting the educational kit to the student
Dr. Venkatesh Prajna with residents and beneficiaries of the education kit at Vellivethiyar Girls Higher Secondary School

Expanding Beyond the Horizons

Aravind-Madurai, 7th August 2025,

Aravind-Tirunelveli organised a special session for second-year and senior AOP employees, conducted by Dr. Raja Mananar, Deputy Director, Centre for Distance Education & Additional Controller of Examinations, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.

Drawing on his experience and knowledge, Dr. Raja shared insights into the various degree and diploma courses offered by the university and explained the enrolment procedures.

Dr. K. Raja Mannar conducting a session on Expanding Beyond the Horizons

Tribute to Dr. P. N

5th August 2025

Staff members across all Aravind centres observed a memorial service to honour and celebrate the life of Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, who had passed away the previous week. On these occasions, those who had been closely associated with Dr. P.N. shared their experiences and the valuable lessons they had learned from him.

At Aravind–Tirupati, AOPs held candles arranged to form the letters “PN” and observed two minutes of silence. Crèche children, doctors, and administrative staff offered flowers to Dr. P.N.’s photo, and a commemorative bookmark was distributed to all staff in his memory. Similarly, at Aravind–Theni, members shared moments that highlighted Dr. P.N.’s remarkable contributions and lasting influence.

Staff at Aravind-Madurai observing condolence for Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, addressed by Dr. Usha Kim
Muthuramalingam, Senior Refractionist, sharing his camp experience with Dr. PN
Dr. Dibankar Datta sharing his experience with Dr. PN
Observing condolence at Aravind-Theni
AOPs holding candles in remembrance and observing condolence at Aravind–Tirupati
Dr. Ashokvarthan sharing his memories of Dr. P. Namperumalsamy
Observing condolence at Aravind-Tirunelveli

Workshop on “Patient-Centred Care”

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 5th August 2025

As part of the Employee Welfare Activities, a workshop on “Patient-Centred Care” was organised for AOPs. The programme was conducted by Koventhan Gokul, Area Sales Manager, Bausch & Lomb, and Raja, Sales Manager, Bausch & Lomb.

The AOPs were divided into two batches, with the first batch attending in the morning and the second in the afternoon.  The sessions included lectures and games that helped participants better understand various concepts. By citing relevant situations and examples from Aravind, Koventhan made the workshop both informative and engaging.

Inauguration of the New MRD Facility

Aravind-Theni, 30th July 2025

A new MRD facility was inaugurated at Aravind – Theni by Srinivasulu Thayam, Chief Technology Officer, Auroitech. The facility will help ease patient congestion in the OPD and ensure more efficient use of the available space.

Srinivasulu Thayam inaugurating the new MRD facility
Operation of the new MRD facility at Aravind-Theni
Doctors, AOPs, and staff members at the inauguration of the new MRD facility

Training the Trainers’ Workshop

Aravind-Chennai, 24th July 2025

Conducted by Karl Golnik, a neuro-ophthalmologist and a professor in the Department of Neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute, this workshop held at Aravind-Chennai, focused on strengthening teaching skills in medical education. It covered various aspects such as engaging teaching methods and tools, effective communication techniques, assessment strategies, managing problematic residents, and the art of giving constructive feedback. The programme was attended by 15 medical officers from Aravind-Chennai.

Dr. Karl Golnik’s session on strengthening teaching skills in medical education
Doctors engaged in a role-play activity during a session
Dr. Bina John presenting a memento to Dr. Karl Golnik
Participants of the Training the Trainers’ Workshop

Cataract Awareness Cyclethon – A Ride to Remember

Aravind-Chennai, 20th July 2025

In a spirited show of commitment to public health, staff members from Aravind–Chennai including 30 doctors participated in a Cataract Awareness Cyclethon from the hospital to Maduravoyal, covering a distance of 5 km.

The event was flagged off by Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, who emphasised the dual importance of early detection and treatment of cataract, as well as maintaining physical fitness among doctors.

Sponsored by Sun Pharma, the ride aimed to spread awareness that cataract, one of the leading causes of blindness, is both preventable and treatable. Along the route, participants carried banners and interacted with the public to encourage regular eye check-ups.

Dr. Haripriya flagging off the Cataract Awareness Cyclethon
Aravind-Chennai doctors at the Cataract Awareness Cyclethon

Diagnostic Skill Transfer Course (DSTC) – Sharpen Your Diagnostic Edge!

Aravind-Pondicherry, 20th July 2025

Aravind-Pondicherry hosted the Diagnostic Skill Transfer Course (DSTC), offering participants a valuable opportunity to enhance their diagnostic acumen. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), corneal topography, glaucoma screening, and neuro-ophthalmology.

Participants gained hands-on experience and practical insights from leading experts in the field. Additionally, a Kahoot quiz was conducted that brought out the competitive spirit among attendees, with exciting prizes awarded to the winners.

Dr. R. Venkatesh presenting on ‘Unspoken Tales of Innovation’
Hands-on training during the Diagnostic Skill Transfer Course
Participants of the Diagnostic Skill Transfer Course (DSTC)

Pondicherry Invention Festival (PIF 2025)

Aravind-Pondicherry, 20th July 2025

Organised by Aurodhan Art Gallery and hosted by Aravind–Pondicherry, the third day of the Pondicherry Invention Festival (PIF 2025) was held at Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, celebrating innovation and wisdom. The event brought together thought leaders from science, philosophy, and healthcare to explore the path toward an Original Future.

The day featured inspiring talks, thought-provoking panel discussions, and impactful film screenings, making it a truly memorable experience for all attendees.

Highlights included, Dr. R. Venkatesh, CMO, Aravind-Pondicherry, spoke on “Unspoken Tales of Innovation,” Aruneswar, MGB, CEO & Founder, Grow Your Farms Pvt. Ltd., Tiruchirapalli, presented on “Revolutionising Agriculture with Predictive AI,” and Dr. N. Murugesan, Founder, Dr. Blue India Foundation, delivered a talk on “Blue India! Not a Dream.”

Syn-Neurons 2025 – Neuro-Ophthalmology Update

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 19-20 July 2025

Organised by Aravind-Tirunelveli, the workshop aimed at fostering a systemically integrated approach to Neuro-Ophthalmology. The event brought together faculty from diverse specialties to enhance participants’ clinical expertise with the latest advances in the field.

This in-person programme offered evidence-based updates in Neuro-Ophthalmology, covering a wide spectrum of topics such as paediatric care, genetics, neuroimaging techniques, and hands-on training sessions. A highlight of the event was the Neuro-Ophthalmology quiz, where Aravind doctors won first place.

Scientific sessions addressed commonly encountered clinical cases, from basic history-taking to advanced investigations such as OCT, MRI, and Electrophysiology. The workshop also featured hands-on training in Hess charting and Diplopia charting, as well as a quiz for postgraduate students. A total of 128 participants, including doctors, postgraduates, fellows, and trainees, attended the workshop.

A thematic kolam on Syn Neurons Update 2025
Dr. R. Ramakrishnan welcoming the distinguished faculty and participants
Ceremonial lamp lighting during the inaugural ceremony
Dr. A. Kowsalya conducting a session
Dr. Umapathi Thirugyanam, Senior Consultant, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, presenting on case study
Dr. R. Ramakrishnan presenting a memento to Dr. Karl Golnik
Participants of Syn-Neurons 2025 – Neuro-Ophthalmology Update

Īkshana – Comprehensive Capsule for Postgraduates - Phase 2

Aravind-Chennai, 16–20 July 2025

The third batch of the five-day Īkshana – Phase 2, conducted at the ARCORE Training Centre, aimed to provide postgraduate and ophthalmology students with a comprehensive foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical surgical skills.

Highlights of the programme included three guest lectures: Patient Safety by Dr. Senthil Vijayan, Anaesthetist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London; Neuro-Ophthalmology by Prof. Umapathi N. Thirugnanam, Neurologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre; and Toric IOLs and Phacoemulsification in Complex Cases by Dr. Harini Balakrishnan, Medical Consultant, Aravind–Tirunelveli. A total of 41 postgraduate students participated in the programme, representing various institutions across India, as well as trainees from Aravind–Madurai and Aravind–Chennai.

Dr. S. Aravind addressing postgraduates at Īkshana - A comprehensive capsule for postgraduates
Wet lab session at Īkshana
Participants of the 3rd Batch of Īkshana – Comprehensive Capsule for Postgraduates

LAICO

Eyexcel - Excellence in Eye Care Training

LAICO, 22-25 July 2025

LAICO conducted the 15th batch of the Eyexcel – Excellence in Eye Care Training course with 13 teams comprising 47 participants from India, South Africa, and South Sudan. The course focused on strengthening each team’s training project and developing a competency-based curriculum. Through interactive sessions and project-based learning, participants explored effective teaching methods, training resources, and assessment tools to enhance education in their respective institutions.

Dr. R.D. Ravindran delivering the inaugural address
Dhivya Ramasamy welcoming the participants
Participants interacting during a session
Participants of Eyexcel – Excellence in Eye Care Training

AuroiTech

Faculty Development Workshop on Emerging Technologies

Auroitech, 9-10 August 2025

Aravind Eye Care System, through its IT wing Auroitech, successfully organised a Faculty Development Workshop for faculty members and Heads of Departments from various esteemed educational institutions.

The workshop aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by introducing real-world applications of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies. It equipped participants with insights to mentor students more effectively and align academic learning with evolving industry needs.

Highlights included sessions on AI & Machine Learning in Healthcare, Cybersecurity, Data-driven Decision Making, and Emerging Technologies in Public Health & Medical Imaging. Faculty also explored real-time healthcare applications and discussed opportunities for curriculum integration and collaborative research.

The workshop, conducted in-person over four sessions on two Saturdays and two Mondays, saw active participation from leading institutions in Madurai, including Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Velammal College of Engineering and Technology, K.L.N. College of Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology, and Subbulakshmi Lakshmipathy College of Science.

Dr. Kim presenting on cyber security

Re-Orientation Training on VC EyeNotes for Government of Tamil Nadu Vision Centres

Aravind-Madurai & Chennai, 26-30 July 2025

The Government of Tamil Nadu State Blindness Control Society (TNSBCS), in collaboration with Aravind Eye Care System, has been running 35 Vision Centres since 2019. Aravind provides ongoing technical support in the form of orientation, training, and software implementation.

As part of continuous follow-up, a one-day re-orientation training programme was organised at three Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Salem, and Chennai, on 26th, 29th, and 30th July 2025 respectively, under the direction of Dr. S. V. Chandrakumar, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Project Director, TNSBCS, Chennai.

The main objective of the training was to familiarise participants with the new platform transition from Web VCMS to VC EyeNotes and to provide hands-on training. Karthikeyan, Project Lead, Client Support, along with his team, played a key role in organising and delivering the sessions. The practical sessions offered a comprehensive understanding of the data entry process and the importance of proper documentation.

The training sessions were facilitated by Mohammed Gowth, Senior Faculty, LAICO, Seran I, Manager, Aravind–Salem, and Rajesh, Assistant Manager, Community Outreach (Camp), Aravind–Chennai. In total, 42 ophthalmologists, 42 optometrists, and PMOAs participated in the re-orientation programme.

Hands-on training on eyeNotes for TNSBCS Vision Centre staff at Aravind–Chennai
Practical session on data entry and documentation at Aravind–Chennai
Karthikeyan conducting a practical session
Hands-on training provided at Aravind-Madurai

Conferences Attended

The Elite School of Optometry (ESO) – International Vision Science and Optometry Conference

Chennai, 15-17 August 2025

At the fourth edition of EIVOC 2025, held at the Chennai Trade Centre, Aravind staff presented posters.

Jegatheeswari J, Tutor–Refraction, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Comparative assessment of accommodation lag in myopic children using mem retinoscopy & open field autorefractometer (Oral Presentation)

Subiksha S, Optometrist, Aravind-Madurai
Title: The role of peripheral hyperopia in myopia progression and the efficacy of myopia control glasses in children (E-Poster)

The 4th Global Ophthalmology Summit

Chicago, Illinois, 15-17 August 2025

Dr. Virna Shah, Chief, Neuro-ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, participated in a collaborative poster presentation with the Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, and Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore.
Title: Integration and utility of a binocular pupillary response camera in low-resource settings, high-volume eye care centres in south India

72nd Annual Conference of Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association (TNOA) & Pondicherry Ophthalmologists’ Association – CHERRYCON 2025

Pondicherry, 1-3 August 2025

Aravind-Madurai

Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty Services

  • Tackling Ptosis (Speaker)
  • Vast: Orbit & Oculoplasty (Speaker)
  • Genetics in ocular oncology (Speaker)
  • Nightmares with Retinoblastoma (Speaker)
  • Orbital Tumours (Chairperson)
  • Clinical profile and pattern of ocular injuries due to firecrackers: Multicentric study (Co-Author)
  • Facial Aesthetics (Panelist)
  • A-Z Ocular adnexal trauma series (Co-Instructor)

Dr. Meghana Tanwar, Medical Consultant, Orbit and Oculoplasty Services

  • Not always a dacryocele at the oculoplasty plenary one case one pearl (Speaker)

Dr. Sudha K.S., MS Resident

  • CHERRYCON Paper Presentation Cornea -2
    Title: Case series: External ophthamomyiasis due to Oestrisovis in South India

Dr. Aravind Krishna V.P., MS Resident

  • Just a Minute (JAM) in Cataract & General Session
    Title: Accessibility tools for the visually challenged in smartphones and computers

Aravind-Salem

Dr. Sathish D., Medical Consultant, Cornea Services

  • Ophthalmologist Got talent – Art Work (Non – Ophthalmic)

Aravind-Chennai

Dr. Lakshana M L, Medical Officer-General Ophthalmology

  • Best Paper of the Session-Comprehensive Ophthalmology
    Title: Distance Sensitive Retinoscopy with Ultrasonic Sensor for Enhanced Accuracy

Dr. Debolina Deb, Medical Consultant Retina

  • Best Poster Podium Presentation -Retina Session
    Title: Oguchi Disease in Indian Patients: Imaging the Elusive Mizuo Phenomenon

31st Annual Meeting of ARVO-India 2025

Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, 26-27 July 2025

Faculty members and research scholars from AMRF actively participated in the 31st Annual Meeting of ARVO-India 2025, held at Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. With the theme “Advancing Interdisciplinary Vision Research,” the event was organised by Dr. Ronnie George and his team from Sankara Nethralaya.

Dr. Gowri Priya Chidambaranathan, Scientist, AMRF, delivered the keynote lecture on “Towards a stem cell-based therapy for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.” Dr. Bharanidharan Devarajan, Scientist, AMRF, gave an invited talk on “Enhancing genomic discovery with a novel computational framework for eye disease-specific pathogenic variants.” Dr. P. Sundaresan, Senior Scientist, AMRF, served as one of the moderators for the Genetics, Molecular and Cell Biology session, while Dr. S. Senthilkumari, Scientist, AMRF, acted as a judge for both the poster and free paper sessions.

In addition, several scientists and research scholars presented papers and posters as follows:

Dhanu Prakash Muthupandi

  • Distinct tear fluid macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) and inflammatory mediator profiles in uveitis patients (Poster presentation)

Anusha Erulandi

  • Altered tear fluid immuno-inflammatory profiles in patients with scleritis (Poster presentation)

Mathan L

  • Proteomic analysis of plasma Small Extracellular Vesicles (SEVs) in patients with Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) in the Indian population (Poster presentation)

Dr. Daipayan Banerjee

  • Plasma and vitreous extracellular vesicle-derived retinol binding protein 3 as a molecular signature of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (Poster presentation)

 Shiva Sankari Sundar

  • Leber congenital amaurosis: Genetic spectrum and genotype-phenotype correlations for precise molecular diagnosis (Poster presentation)

Hari Vignesh S

  • Exploring mitochondrial genetic variants in primary open angle glaucoma (Poster presentation)

Karthik Alagarsamy

  • Localisation of multiple isoforms of human tear lysozyme in the extracellular vesicle (Poster presentation)

Kanthimathi R

  • Spatial transcriptomic analysis of adult human retinal pigment epithelium

Lakshmi Devi Priya J

  • Demonstrating the anti-fibrotic property of Relaxin-2 (RLN2) in TGF-ß2 induced fibrosis model of glaucoma using human organ cultured anterior segment (Poster presentation)

Thushmitha P

  • Alteration in the YAP signaling pathway in cataractous human lens epithelium (Poster presentation)

Sneha Nair

  • Unravelling MicroRNA Signatures in human trabecular meshwork stem cells: Implications with ageing and in glaucoma (Poster presentation)

Dr. Senthilkumari Srinivasan

  • Regulatory role of micrornas in Wnt signaling pathways associated with steroid-induced ocular hypertension: An insight from Ex Vivo studies (Poster presentation)

Kanmani. M

  • Development of an integrated RPA-EXO probe assay for low complexity and rapid detection of fungal DNA in ocular infections (Poster presentation)

Hariharan Gnanam

  • Isolation and characterisation of extracellular vesicles from aspergillus flavus cultures exposed to stress (Poster presentation)

Praveenkumar R

  • MiRNA profiling reveals novel mechanistic insights on the role of neurotrophin signaling in pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis (Poster presentation)

Shreya Dinesh

  • Comparative host transcriptome analysis to identify core and pathogen-specific immune response in fungal keratitis (Poster presentation)

Dr. Swagata Ghosh

  • Distinct corneal gene expression profiles associate with differential disease trajectories in fusarium and aspergillus keratitis (Poster presentation)

Balaji

  • CRISPR-Based RID-Myc Assay versus conventional culture in a postoperative fungal Endophthalmitis cluster: Diagnostic and therapeutic implication (Poster presentation)
AMRF team at the 31st Annual Meeting of ARVO-India 2025

9th Annual Conference of the Indian Retinopathy of Prematurity (iROP) Society

Jaipur, 19–20 July 2025

Dr. Renu P. Rajan, Medical Consultant, Retina-Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai, presented a paper in the Best Paper Session at the 9th Annual Conference of the Indian Retinopathy of Prematurity (iROP) Society, held under the aegis of the Jaipur Ophthalmological Society in Jaipur.
Title: Therapeutic Impact of an Indian Bevacizumab Biosimilar on Type 1, Hybrid, and Aggressive Retinopathy of Prematurity

 

Publications

  1. Ha T, Ganesh S, Narendran K, Uduman MS, Rajan R, Sankaridurg P, Nguyen N, Tran H. Comparison of axial length measurements of myopic eyes from ocular biometers versus axial length estimator. J AAPOS 2025 Jun. [Epub] View more
  2. Vivekanandan VR, Nachiappan S, Odayappan A, Gangapatnam NN, Benzy M, Venkatesh R. Four-flanged, intrascleral fixation of foldable intraocular lens using straight-needled 7-0 polypropylene suture – A surgical technique. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2025 Jul 1;73(7):1072-1074. View more
  3. Siddiqui O, Warner E, Greenwald M, Li T, Srinivasan K, Haripriya A, Nallasamy N. Comparing IOL refraction prediction accuracy and A-constant optimization for cataract surgery patients across South Indian and Midwestern United States populations. BMC Ophthalmol. 2025 Jul 2;25(1):349. View more
  4. Santhosh LM, Venugopal A, Shankar D, Sethi K. Bilateral Severe Ocular Trauma Resulting From Drone Accident: A Case Report. Cornea. 2025 Jul 1. [Epub} View more
  5. Jan CL, Joseph S, Vingrys AJ, Henwood J, Ge Z, Stafford RS, He M. Prospective pragmatic trial of automated retinal photography and AI glaucoma screening in Australian primary care. NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jul 1;8(1):386.  View more
  6. Haripriya A, Chandrashekharan S, Schehlein EM, Shekhar M, Venkatesh R, Narendran K, Uduman MS, Ravindran RD, Robin AL. Aravind Pseudoexfoliation Study (APEX): 10 Year Postoperative Results. Am J Ophthalmol. 2025 Jun 30. [Epub] View more
  7. Pillai MR, Puthuran GV, Friedman DS, Valaguru V, Rahmathullah R, Ganesh SP, Rajendran J, Mani I, Krishnadas R, Papadopoulos M. Identifying Barriers and Improving Adherence to Follow-up of Childhood Glaucoma in South India. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2025 Jul 5. [Epub] View more
  8. Jha VK, Das A, Shah PK. The “Moth-Eaten” Signature: OCT Clues to Astrocytic Hamartoma. Ophthalmol Retina. 2025 Jul 7. [Epub] View more
  9. Srinivas SP, Young AL, Behndig A, Chang DF, Dhubhghaill SN, Eom Y, Fan AH, Findl O, Gundersen KG, Khanna RC, Kohnen T, Mah FS, Miller KM, Nanavaty MA, Nuijts R, Oshika T, Pardianto G, Reus NJ, Ruit S, Sharma N, Venkatesh R, Zhang M, Zheng K, Rao SK, Alió JL. Controversies, Consensuses and Guidelines on Modern Cataract Surgery by the Academy of Asia-Pacific Professors of Ophthalmology (AAPPO). Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2025 Jul 6. [Epub] View more
  10. Negiloni K, Baskaran P, Rao DP, Maitray A, Savoy FM, Suresh S, Mahalingam M, Vighnesh MJ, Rajendran A. Advancing AMD screening with an offline, AI-powered smartphone-based fundus camera: A prospective, real-world clinical validation. Eye (Lond). 2025 Jul 11. [Epub] View more
  11. Muraleedharan P, Christy JS, Radhakrishnan N. Outcomes of anterior chamber wash with adjuvant intracameral and intrastromal voriconazole in deep stromal fungal keratitis with endoexudates – A retrospective study. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2025 Jul 18. [Epub] View more

Training

Enrolments for August 2025

Course title
Training Centre
No. of enrolments
Long Term Fellowship Programmes – For Ophthalmologists
Fellowship in Anterior Segment / Intraocular Lens Surgery Tirunelveli 1
Pondicherry 1
Fellowship in Cornea Madurai 1
Salem 1
Pondicherry 1
Fellowship in Retina – Vitreous Madurai 2
Pondicherry 3
Fellowship in General Ophthalmology Salem 1
Pondicherry 1
Chennai 4
Fellowship in Glaucoma Madurai 1
Tirunelveli 1
Pondicherry 1
Coimbatore 1
Fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Madurai 1
Fellowship in Orbit & Oculoplasty Coimbatore 1
Surgical Paediatric Retina Fellowship (RoP) Coimbatore 1
Fellowship in Medical Retina Coimbatore 1
Short-Term Training Programmes – For Ophthalmologists
Phacoemulsification Madurai 2
Coimbatore 2
Tirunelveli 1
Chennai 1
Management of Retinopathy of Prematurity and Paediatric Retinal Disorders Madurai 1
Coimbatore 1
Small Incision Cataract Surgery Madurai 1
Coimbatore 1
Pondicherry 1
Chennai 1
HelpMeSee Simulation-based Training in MSICS Madurai 1
Paramedical Courses
Short Term Course in Refraction Techniques Madurai 1
Ocularist Madurai 1
Management Courses
Fellowship in Eye Hospital Management LAICO 1
Management Training and Systems Development for Hospital Administrators / Managers LAICO 10

Enrolments for July 2025

Course title
Training Centre
No. of enrolments
Long Term Fellowship Programmes – For Ophthalmologists
Fellowship in Anterior Segment / Intraocular Lens Surgery Tirunelveli 1
Coimbatore 2
Fellowship in Cornea Pondicherry 1
Coimbatore 1
Fellowship in Retina – Vitreous Madurai 4
Tirupati 2
Chennai 1
Tirunelveli 2
Fellowship in General Ophthalmology Salem 1
Madurai 1
Tirupati 1
Fellowship in Glaucoma Madurai 1
Coimbatore 1
Fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Madurai 1
Fellowship in Orbit & Oculoplasty Madurai 1
Fellowship in Medical Retina Madurai 1
Short Term Fellowship Training Programs – For International Ophthalmologists
Paediatric Ophthalmology Coimbatore 1
Short Term Fellowship in Glaucoma Coimbatore 1
Short Term Fellowship in Orbit & Oculoplasty Madurai 1
Short-Term Training Programmes – For Ophthalmologists
Phacoemulsification Madurai 2
Coimbatore 1
Tirunelveli 2
Pondicherry 1
Management of Retinopathy of Prematurity and Paediatric Retinal Disorders Madurai 1
Coimbatore 1
Small Incision Cataract Surgery Madurai 2
Coimbatore 2
Tirunelveli 1
Pondicherry 1
Chennai 1
Neuro Ophthalmology Madurai 1
Clinical Observership Program In Diagnosis and Management Of Glaucoma Pondicherry 1
Paramedical Courses
OT techniques Madurai 3
Vision technicians Madurai 4
Management Courses
Eyexcel – Excellence in Eye Care Training LAICO 25
Eye Bank Courses
Eye Bank Technqiues Madurai 1

Statistics

Patient Statistics – July 2025

Hospitals
Total
Madurai
Tirunelveli
Coimbatore
Pondicherry
Salem
Chennai
Tirupati
Thanjavur
Theni
Tiruppur
Dindigul
Tuticorin
Udumalpet
CBE CC
Kovilpatti
Hospital Out-patient visits
Paying (New & Review) 3,07,570 63,520 34,757 39,761 31,318 14,532 47,008 17,404 11,109  10,602 5,818 11,133 6,076 5,235 5,703 3,594
Free: Direct walk-in (New & Review) 1,22,816 26,710 9,358 13,071 12,471 8,420 14,488 16,988 5,299 3,233 3,254 3,338 1,773 2,825 1,588
Outreach Out-patients
Comprehensive Eye Camps 42,446 11,637 4,586 7,088 7,020 2,533 3,257 2,893 196  –  –
Diabetic Retinopathy Camps 1,936 560  25  905 110  140  –
Glaucoma Camps  –  –  –  –  –  –
Refraction Camp 3,903 865 698 1,089 103 383  – 268 364  –  – 133
Mobile Refraction Unit 1,285 102  1,183  –
School Screening 9,017  894  1,869  1,649  2,425 559  140  759 362  – 360  –  –
Paediatric Eye Screening Camps  796  – 796  –
RoP Screening 1,527 351  128 461 74  224  25  229
Vision Centres 1,03,530 34,158 17,953 7,184 21,652 5,569 4,771  –  7,495  2,482  2,266
Community / City Centres 22,012 10,493 3,249  –  2,922  –  1,372  1,159  2,817  –
Total OP Examinations 6,16,838 1,49,188 72,658 71,310 78,891 33,179 71,260 38,609 16,408 26,657 13,533 14,471 8,212 11,204 5,703 5,555
Total number of camps 197  47  25  31 25 12 21 16  –  7 4 3 4 2
Surgeries
Cataract 49,719 12,182 4,642 5,818 6,383 3,441 5,950 4,467 1,046 1,339 940 1,093 566 1,029 326  497
*Other Surgeries 28,862 7,246 3,505 5,234 3,518 1,062 3,868 2,144 660 711 139 232 96 157 208 82
Total Surgeries  78,581  19,428  8,147  11,052  9,901  4,503  9,818  6,611  1,706  2,050  1,079  1,325  662  1,186  534  579
Other surgeries include major surgeries, minor surgeries, intra-vitreal & other injections and laser procedures.
 

Patient Statistics – June 2025

Hospitals
Total
Madurai
Tirunelveli
Theni
Coimbatore
Pondicherry
Tirupur
Dindigul
Salem
Tuticorin
Udumalpet
CbeCC
Chennai
Tirupati
Kovilpatti
Thanjavur
Hospital Out-patient visits
Paying (New & Review)  2,89,093  60,838  33,517  9,836  36,660  29,174  5,432  10,490  13,461 6,009  4,883  5,488  44,876  16,409  3,653  8,367
Free: Direct walk-in (New & Review)  1,13,285  25,176  8,850  2,865  12,240  11,055  3,029  3,177  8,184  1,881  2,829  –  14,189  15,433  1,460  2,917
Outreach Out-patients
Comprehensive Eye Camps  36,211  9,509  4,275  1,019  5,015  5,836  901  –  1,949  587  143  3,838 2,928  211  –
Diabetic Retinopathy Camps  1,801  914 253  634  –
Glaucoma Camps  –  –  –  –  –  –
Refraction Camp  4,411  1,445  697  214  659  259  171 124  –  – 842  –
Mobile Refraction Unit  2,423  – 737  1,686
School Screening  1,586 177 19 860  530  –  –  –  –  –
Paediatric Eye Screening Camps  –  –  –
RoP Screening  1,296  307  128 172  397 48 217 27
Vision Centres  96,027  31,460  17,254  6,968  6,750  19,694  2,075  5,156 2,178 4,492
Community / City Centres  20,791 10,028  3,105  2,581  2,778 1,298  1,001
Total OP Examinations  5,66,924 1,39,677 68,003 23,927 63,952 69,374 11,608 13,667 30,560 8,477 10,033 5,488 69,752 35,798 5,324 11,284
Total number of camps 189 42 25 8 26 25 5  – 12 4  1  23 16 2  –
Surgeries
Cataract  43,826  10,052  4,301  1,256  4,751  5,987  833  1,052  3,011  672  985  314  5,869  4,223  506 14
*Other Surgeries 25,661 6,329 3,066 585 4,655 3,099 125 144 861 92 147 197 3,781 1,940 80 560
Total Surgeries 69,487 16,381 7,367 1,841 9,406 9,086 958 1,196 3,872 764 1,132 511 9,650 6,163 586 574
Other surgeries include major surgeries, minor surgeries, intra-vitreal & other injections and laser procedures.