Despite the heavy patient footfall across all Aravind centres during the holiday season, every patient continued to receive attentive and compassionate care. A notable achievement was recorded at the recently relocated Aravind-Salem hospital, which witnessed its highest-ever outpatient visit. The hospital registered 1,051 walk-in patients on 24th April 2026 and surpassed this record just three days later, on 27th April 2026, with a total of 1,179 outpatients. This achievement reflects the growing trust and confidence of the community in Aravind’s services.

This also revealed the sincere dedication of staff members across Aravind, who ensured that services remained smooth, efficient, and hassle-free even during peak periods. In the same spirit of care, a simple initiative to engage staff children during their summer vacation turned into a meaningful and enjoyable opportunity at Aravind-Madurai. The summer camp “Kodai Kondatam,” held at the Janakiamma Crèche, featured a variety of fun-filled and engaging sessions. The children happily participated in activities and enjoyed making new friends.

The hospital also observed Retinoblastoma Awareness Day by bringing together retinoblastoma survivors and their parents for a special gathering. The event provided survivors with an opportunity to share their journeys of courage and recovery, which became a source of inspiration and confidence for fellow survivors and families.

A team from Aravind-Chennai visited the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad under the IGNITE Leadership Development Programme to strengthen leadership capabilities through experiential learning and reflection sessions.

Even amidst the continuous rush of patient care, the institution remained committed to maintaining quality in every aspect of its work. Alongside uninterrupted clinical services, Aravind continued to conduct training programmes such as CMEs, CPEs, workshops, and academic sessions.

This edition features news and highlights from May 2026 up to the 25th, along with a few events from April that could not be included earlier.

Denver, USA, 3-7 May 2026

Dr. Ganesh V. Raman, Chief, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, was honoured with the Early Career Clinician Scientist Research Award by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) for his research work at its 2026 Annual Meeting.

Title: Optimal dimension of peripheral iridotomy for anatomical efficacy in primary angle closure disease: Does size really matter?

Online, 26^th April 2026

• Presidential Medal – Irene Rose Joy, DNB Resident, Aravind-Chennai
• First Runner-up Award – Dr. Saiteja Kothapally, DNB Resident, Aravind-Coimbatore

Cochin, Kerala, 24-26 April 2026

Dr. Viji Rangarajan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Coimbatore

Title: Giant ocular epibulbar dermoid
(Photograph captured by Senthilkumar, AVD Technologist, Aravind-Coimbatore)

Aravind-Pondicherry, 24^th May 2026

The CME was an enriching day of learning and discussions focused on empowering ophthalmologists with essential oculoplasty skills. The sessions featured practical workups and surgical approaches to ptosis, along with overviews of ectropion, entropion, and eyelid laceration repair. A Kahoot Quiz was also conducted during the programme. Dr. Dania won the first prize, while Dr. Vinduja and Dr. Sahla secured the second and third prizes respectively.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 16-17 May 2026

After a decade, Update on Neuro-Ophthalmology (UNO 2.0) was conducted at Aravind-Coimbatore with the theme, “Clarifying the Blurry Lines.” The programme featured sessions by three international faculty members from the USA and Singapore, along with four national faculty from renowned institutions across India. Multidisciplinary experts, including radiologists, endocrinologists, and neurologists, further enriched the academic gathering.

Interactive flipped classrooms, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) sessions, and Kahoot quizzes kept the audience actively engaged, with winners receiving Aravind textbooks as prizes.

The meeting was guided and inspired by Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, who was present throughout the occasion. Creative additions such as the Neuro Pixel photo booth, the AOP Corner featuring pictures that told neuro stories, and Cortex Comments, an innovative feedback initiative, added a unique touch to the event. The 30-second PG fun videos announcing coffee breaks brought energy and humour to the academic sessions. The enthusiastic response to the Aravind book stall further reflected the spirit of learning and collaboration.

UNO 2.0 proved to be both a memorable and enriching experience for all participants. The one-and-a-half-day programme received an overwhelming response, with 257 registrations and 221 delegates attending the meeting.

Aravind-Thanjavur, 15^th May 2026

Conducted with the objective of fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace environment, the programme featured an interactive session by Chandra, Inspector of Anti Child Trafficking Unit, Thanjavur. She created awareness about women’s rights, workplace safety measures, the prevention of harassment, and the importance of mutual respect and responsibility. Staff members actively participated in the session, which encouraged open discussion and interaction.

Aravind-Madurai, 6-15 May 2026

Janakiamma Crèche, Aravind-Madurai, organised a nine-day summer camp for the children of staff members, creating a valuable and enjoyable learning experience. The camp featured a variety of fun-filled and engaging sessions such as science experiments, a mobile planetarium visit, chess training sessions, games, tree walk activities, music classes, art and craft workshops, bird water feeder making, Madhubani art, grid art, stone art, and storytelling activities.

As part of the camp, the children were also taken on educational visits to Keeladi, Kalaignar Centenary Library, and Aurofarm. They had opportunities to swim, trek, go on nature walks, and learn about the ecosystem. The camp helped the children develop public speaking skills, self-reliance, teamwork, and friendship. They also learned fireless cooking and participated enthusiastically in group activities.

During the valedictory session, the children showcased their talents through singing, dancing, and drama performances. Overall, “Kodai Kondatam” gave the children a memorable and enriching experience.

Aravind-Madurai, 16^th May 2026

The 9^th Retinoblastoma Awareness Day programme was conducted at Aravind-Madurai with various awareness events. A human chain was organised from Anna Bus Stand to Aravind Eye Hospital to raise awareness about retinoblastoma. The event was flagged off by S. Vanitha, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Madurai.

Later, the Survivors’ Meet, held at the AMRF building, began with Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit, Oculoplasty, Ocular Oncology & Ocular Prosthetic Services, Aravind-Madurai, welcoming the retinoblastoma survivors and their parents. She thanked the staff members, the genetic research team, and the supporting organisations for their dedicated work towards the well-being of the patients. She also remembered the contributions of Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), and Dr. V.R. Muthukaruppan, Advisor, Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF), whose efforts greatly strengthened genetic research in retinoblastoma.

A connection game was conducted for the parents of retinoblastoma survivors. Dr. R. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, AECS, and other senior members were present on the occasion.

Several activities were organised for the children, including a drawing session, a mobile planetarium visit, and a career guidance session. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by lunch for all the participants.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 23^rd May 2026

The World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week celebration at Aravind-Coimbatore marked its 10th year with great enthusiasm and participation. An awareness programme was organised, beginning with a welcome address by Dr. Parag K. Shah, Chief, Paediatric Retina and Ocular Oncology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore.

Dr. Ninan Jacob, Paediatric Retina Fellow, explained the various groups and stages of retinoblastoma and discussed the available treatment options. Dr. Kavitha Yuvarajan, Medical Consultant, Orbit, Oculoplasty & Ocular Oncology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, gave a detailed presentation on customised prosthetic fitting. Jaisree from the Research Department delivered a talk on the genetics of retinoblastoma and clarified the doubts raised by parents.

Children were provided with school bags, water bottles, caps, colourful notepads, crayons, chocolates, and balloons. Dhivya, Welfare Coordinator, engaged the children through games and interactive activities. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. S. Prema, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Retina and Ocular Oncology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore. The programme concluded with a delicious lunch for all attendees.

A total of 400 participants, including 97 enthusiastic retinoblastoma survivors and their families, attended the function. Patients were also registered for vision and refraction assessments, followed by consultations with doctors for fundus and orbit examinations for those in need.

Aravind-Salem, 8^th May 2026

A new surgical machine was inaugurated at the LASIK OT Services of Aravind-Salem to provide advanced vision correction treatment for patients. The Cornea and LASIK team played a vital role in successfully establishing and launching the OT services.

Aravind-Madurai, 4-8 May 2026

Dr. Bipin Bista, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Narayana Eye Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, attended a five-day Ophthalmic Instrument Maintenance course held at Aravind-Madurai. He received hands-on training in the use and maintenance of the Streak Retinoscope, Direct Ophthalmoscope, Indirect Ophthalmoscope, Slit Lamp, and the calibration of the Applanation Tonometer and Keratometer.

Basic care and maintenance of the Surgical Microscope, Phaco machine, Vitrectomy machine, NCT, and OCT were also explained to him. In addition, a session on sharpening surgical instruments was conducted. The course also provided him with a small set of tools.

Aravind – Salem, 5^th May 2026

World Hand Hygiene Day was observed at Aravind-Salem with a focus on creating awareness about the importance of proper hand hygiene in preventing infections and promoting overall health. Educational videos on hand hygiene were screened for patients in the waiting area. Staff members also provided direct demonstrations on correct handwashing techniques and interacted with patients to reinforce the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene.

Aravind-Chennai, 7^th April 2026

The workshop focused on strengthening sterilisation processes and enhancing the monitoring of infection control practices across all centres. A key priority was ensuring strict adherence to standardised sterilisation protocols and establishing a structured system for periodic OT and CSSD audits.

The workshop introduced periodic audits aimed to identify gaps in current sterilisation practices, reinforce and standardise CSSD procedures, ensure uniform implementation of protocols, develop a comprehensive audit checklist, and form dedicated teams to carry out systematic CSSD audits. The programme brought together 40 participants, including doctors, AOPs, microbiologists, and managers from various Aravind tertiary centres in Chennai, Madurai, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, Salem, Tirupati, Thanjavur, and Theni.

Aravind- Coimbatore, 22^nd April 2026

Aravind-Coimbatore has initiated a three-phase parenting workshop series comprising separate sessions for parents and children, followed by a joint session for both. The first session, focused on parenting awareness for AOPs and administrative day scholar staff members, has been successfully completed. The programme aimed to strengthen parent-child relationships through effective communication and practical parenting approaches. The session was facilitated by Priya Senthil, a motivational speaker, confidence coach, and corporate trainer. A total of 24 parents participated in the session.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 20^th April 2026

The objective of the half-day CPE programme was to strengthen professional skills, enhance safety awareness, and promote overall well-being. The programme began with Vignesh, Transport Manager, sharing insights into the day-to-day operations of the transport system. Sambamoorthy, Force Territory Service Manager, along with Asam Moheem, conducted the technical training sessions, while Umapriya, HR Manager, led a session on Genesis and women’s safety awareness. Additionally, a video presentation highlighted the importance of timely intervention in restoring vision. A total of eight drivers participated in the programme.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 23^rd April 2026

The workshop on personal etiquette for the Medical Record Department staff aimed at strengthening communication and enhancing patient-centred care. The session was facilitated by Dr. V. Uma, Head of the Department, and Sirija, Assistant Professor, from the Master of Hospital Management programme at Dr. N.G.P. Arts and Science College, Coimbatore. Through interactive activities and role plays, participants developed greater confidence and gained meaningful insights into being responsive, responsible, and committed in their roles.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 24-25 April 2026

The CPE for managers of Aravind Eye Hospitals featured a range of insightful sessions conducted by both internal and external resource persons.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. R. Venkatesh, CMO, Aravind-Pondicherry, followed by a keynote address by Thulasiraj Ravilla, Director – Operations, AECS, who highlighted gaps in current practices and emphasised the need to eliminate waste. Varun Dubey, CEO, SuperHealth, Bengaluru, led a session on “Patient-Centred Care: Designing Systems Around Patients’ Needs and Expectations.” This was followed by a fireside chat featuring Thulasiraj Ravilla and Dhivya Ramasamy, Executive Director, LAICO, in conversation with Varun Dubey. Dr. Anna George, Head – Quality, Aster DM Healthcare, India, delivered a virtual session on “Driving Quality in Healthcare: From Intent to Impact.”

Subodh Satyawadi, Senior President, EMRI, Telangana, conducted a session on “Effective Operational Practices in Healthcare Organisations,” followed by a Q&A session. Additional sessions were facilitated by internal experts, including Dr. S. Aravind, CMO, Aravind-Chennai, B. S. Ganesh Babu, Senior Faculty, LAICO, Syed Ali, Senior Faculty, LAICO, and Vadamalayappan from Aurolab.

Aravind-Salem, 26^th April 2026

Organised by Aravind-Salem, the event focused on outreach activities, collaboration, and strengthening sponsorship initiatives. The event began with a welcome address by Boopathi, Camp Manager, while Dr. Sankar, Camp Medical Officer, presented the outreach performance. This was followed by a group photo session and a hospital tour conducted by the outreach team.

The key segment of the programme was a live discussion session led by Dr. B. Manohar Babu, CMO. Aravind-Salem. He highlighted communication received from Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, regarding the changing scenario and emphasised several focus areas: identification of new sponsors, development of new publicity strategies, emphasis on comprehensive eye care, motivating both current and next-generation sponsors, and implementing a mentorship model.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mohanasundarajan, VC Coordinator. The event ended with lunch, providing an opportunity for informal interaction and networking. A total of 94 individuals from 45 organisations participated in the event.

Kathmandu, 8^th May 2026

Dr. Usha Kim

• Management of vascular tumours (Lecture)
• Medical management of thyroid eye disease (Lecture)

Hyderabad & Bangalore, 24 & 26 April 2026

Dr. Madhu Shekhar, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, Aravind-Madurai, represented Aurolab at two round table meetings held in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

The first meeting, organised in association with the Hyderabad Ophthalmic Society, was held at Golkonda Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, where he delivered the keynote address on the clinical outcomes of the Aurolab Magnus IOL. At the second-round table meeting, held at the Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Bangalore, he delivered a keynote address on the same topic.

Denver, Colorado, USA, 3-7 May 2026

Scientists and research scholars from AMRF participated in the Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2026, held in Denver, Colorado, USA. The conference was attended by nearly 8,500 delegates from across the world.

Dr. P. Sundaresan, ICMR Emeritus Scientist, AMRF, Dr. Gowri Priya Chidambaranathan, Scientist, Immunology & Stem Cell Biology, AMRF and Dr. S. Senthilkumari, Scientist, Ocular Pharmacology, AMRF, presented papers and posters at the meeting. Sneha Nair, Junior Research Scholar, Department of Immunology & Stem Cell Biology, AMRF, received the Developing Country Eye Researcher Travel Fellowship (DCERF) 2026 to attend the conference.

The following presentations were made during the meeting:

Gowri Priya Chidambaranathan, Ravindran Kanthimathi, Arif Waseema, Lochan Aravinda, Math, Punitkumar, Devarajan Bharanidharan, Ayyasamy Vanniarajan, Radhakrishnan Shanthi, and Ramasamy Kim

• Spatial transcriptomic analysis identified the presence of stem-like cells in adult human peripheral retinal pigment epithelium (Paper Presentation)

Sneha Nair, Bharanidharan Devarajan, Vanniarajan Ayyasamy, Krishnadas S.R., Gowri Priya Chidambaranathan

• Integrated digital spatial transcriptomics and miRNA profiling identified molecular regulation of trabecular meshwork stem cells and their alteration in glaucomatous condition (Paper Presentation)

Dr. P. Sundaresan, Gowri Poigaialwar, and Maheshkumar Shanmugam

• Exploring the metabolomics signature of Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) for possible therapeutic targets (Poster Presentation)

Dr. S. Senthilkumari, Sharmila Rajendrababu, Vijayalakshmi Senthilkumar, Indira Durai, Fazil H., Krishnadas S.R., Dharmalingam Kuppamuthu, Eric Shultz, and Donald Schwartz

• TULIP™ – A non-invasive, office-based therapy to restore cellular and neural function in glaucoma (Poster Presentation)

Coimbatore, 2^nd May 2026

Dr. V. Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore, and Dr. Kalpana Narendran, Chief, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, participated as chief guests at a special awareness meeting organised by Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, to celebrate the milestone of 400 skin donations through its Skin Bank initiative.

During the programme, Dr. Narendran spoke about Aravind’s eye care services, eye donation activities, outreach camps, and training programmes. Dr. Kalpana Narendran created awareness about the importance of eye donation and encouraged the public to support organ and tissue donation initiatives. During her talk, she also highlighted the inspiring organ donation of 8-year-old Miss S. Venbha from Coimbatore. After she was declared brain dead in February 2026, her family decided to donate her organs and tissues, highlighting the importance of the Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP).

Kochi, Kerala, 24-26 April 2026

Dr. Usha Kim

• Challenging and Complex Cases in Lid Reconstruction (Chairperson)
• Optic Nerve Sheath Fenestration (Talk – deferred live surgery session)
• Judge for the Non-Orbit Free Paper session

Dr. Meghana Tanwar, Medical Consultant, Orbit, Oculoplasty, Ocular Oncology & Ocular Prosthetic Services, Aravind-Madurai,

• Lacrimal sac tumour (Presentation)
• Lid tear repair (Presentation)

Ahmedabad, 19-20 April 2026

A team from Aravind-Chennai undertook an on-campus visit to the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad as part of this year’s organisational theme, “Enabling Leadership at Different Levels,” under the Identify, Grow, Nourish, Improve, Tailor, Express (IGNITE) Leadership Development Programme.

The team, comprising heads of departments and clinical managers, participated in an intensive learning experience led by distinguished faculty, including Prof. Rajesh Chandwani, Prof. Ankur Sinha, Prof. Sunil Sharma, Prof. Amit Karna, and Prof. Viswanath Pingali.

Key sessions included Operations Management, which focused on improving efficiency and patient flow through data-driven decision-making, Strategy Implementation, which emphasised the translation of organisational vision into actionable outcomes, and Strategy Formulation & Design Thinking, which introduced structured approaches to innovation and problem-solving.

The programme also incorporated experiential learning and reflection sessions, enabling the team to connect theoretical concepts with real-time healthcare challenges, thereby strengthening leadership capabilities and fostering practical application within the organisation.

Mastichak, Bihar, 5^th April 2026

A team from Aravind participated in the Sight for All Conclave 2026, a national gathering of over 300 eminent experts and representatives from more than 30 leading eye care institutions. The conclave was hosted by Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital at its Centre of Excellence in Mastichak, Bihar.

Centred on the theme, “Community Care as Market Intelligence: Enhancing Patient Acquisition in Eye Care Systems,” the conclave reflected a strong institutional commitment to advancing public eye health as a key development priority, particularly for underserved and marginalised communities.

The participation of distinguished institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Aravind Eye Care System, Sankara Nethralaya, Sankara Eye Foundation India, and Sitapur Eye Hospital highlighted a shared understanding that preventable blindness is not merely a clinical challenge, but also a systemic issue involving awareness, access, and timely intervention.

5-6 May 2026

Sreenivas Potukuchi, Head – People Function, Health, Azim Premji Foundation, along with senior leaders and respective department heads, visited Aravind-Madurai, for an exposure visit aimed at strengthening leadership capabilities as their organisation continues to expand its impact in the social sector.

During the visit, the team was given an orientation to Aravind and gained an understanding of the organisation’s structure and functions, including human resources, administration, quality assurance, postgraduate teaching, and training programmes.

18^th May 2026

Prof. Aruna Chandrasekaran, Chair and Professor, Scott College of Business, Management Information Systems and Business Education, along with postgraduate and undergraduate students, visited Aravind for a one-day exposure visit.

As part of their two-week for-credit course titled “Social Entrepreneurship in India”, the group visited both large and small organisations recognised for their innovative business models and their approaches to addressing poverty and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The visit aimed to help students learn from organisations that share a strong emphasis on innovation and social impact.

The team was given a presentation on Aravind’s overview, followed by a hospital tour. The participants later consolidated their observations and reflected on their learning experience with the Aravind team. Post lunch, the group visited Aurolab.

26^th May 2026

Dr. Avinash Chandra Agnihotri, General Secretary, Shri Ravi ji Bhusari, Special Invitee Member, Shri Nikhil ji Mundle, Vice President, and Dr. Sagar Gabhane, Public Relations Officer from Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute and Research Centre, Nagpur, visited Aravind-Madurai.

The team met with the LAICO team to discuss the development of a new state-of-the-art eye care facility. They also visited Aravind-Thirunelveli, where Shri Kishor ji Tokekar, Joint General Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra, joined them for a meeting with Dr. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Thirunelveli.

26^th May 2026

A faculty team from RL Institute of Management Studies, accompanied by Prof. Subramainam, Director of the MBA Programme, visited Aravind-Madurai and Aurolab as part of a faculty immersion and institutional learning exercise.

The exposure visit provided an opportunity for the team to understand operational excellence, mission-driven leadership, and frugal innovation, which they could further integrate into classroom teaching and research. The programme included a presentation on the genesis of Aravind, a hospital tour, and a question-and-answer session. The team also visited the Vision Centre at Kariyapatti and later toured Aurolab after lunch.

27^th May 2026

Marius De Beer, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Andeea Ioana Neagu, Global Sustainability Manager, along with Ramachandran Parthasarathy, one of the board members of Hoya Vision Care and Hoya Surgical Optics, visited Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, and Aurolab.

The team was on an exposure visit to engage in discussions with the Aravind team regarding possible areas of collaboration. During their visit, they also toured the Primary Eye Care Centre at Alanganallur and Aurolab.