The opening of vision centres at different locations each month marks a significant step forward in fulfilling the mission of Dr. V, who established the first vision centre in Ambasamudram on 14^th April 2004. With the recent openings of centres in Kilpennathur and Kayathar, the total number of centres has now risen to 116.

In preparation for moving to a larger facility, once construction is completed in 2026, the Aravind Eye Hospital, Salem, conducts workshops focused on planning strategies to ensure a smooth shift.

As part of its patient care initiatives, Aravind ensures that low-vision patients with severe visual impairments have the privilege of experiencing the world more freely and carrying out their daily routines. This is achieved by providing Smart Vision Pro glasses to beneficiaries, with support from various non-profit organisations. Recently, two Smart Vision Pro Glass Distribution Programmes were held at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Tirunelveli and Coimbatore, where 83 glasses were distributed.

Beyond eye care, Aravind is also committed to community engagement through its Resident Social Responsibility programmes, which encourage philanthropic practices among residents. Recently, residents from Aravind-Madurai visited several government schools, providing educational kits and raising awareness about protecting eyesight.

News about these developments and much more occurred between 15^th July and 15^th August are featured in this edition.

USA, 9-11 August

Dr. Hari Bhadari Anand, Junior Resident, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the prestigious 2024 David Hunter Cherwek, MD Award for Global Ophthalmology for his presentation titled, Greening Eye Care: Environmental sustainability of telemedicine at a tertiary eye-care centre in South India.

Aravind-Salem, 3^rd August 2024

As Aravind-Salem prepares to move to a new and bigger facility in 2026, the team participated in a half-day workshop. The workshop was initiated by Dr. Manohar Babu, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Aravind-Salem, and led by Syed Ali A, Senior Faculty, LAICO. The focus was on planning strategies and allocating resources to expand services in anticipation of the move.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 31^st July 2024

Aravind’s 116^th Vision Centre in Kayathar was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, in the presence of Saradha Ramakrishnan and Dr. R. Meenakshi, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli. Several well-wishers, camp sponsors, and patrons of Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), graced the occasion with their presence.

A team from Tirunelveli Base Hospital managed the event. On the inaugural day, 77 patients were examined.

Aravind, 22-27 July 2024

Library Week at Aravind was a unique annual event aimed at spreading knowledge. This year, the library team collaborated to organise various activities for postgraduates and MLOPs across Aravind libraries in Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, and Pondicherry. Events included an online research skills test for postgraduates, a photo quiz to test observational skills by identifying eye conditions and treatments from educational images, and an exciting treasure hunt within the library, where participants searched for hidden treasures using provided clues. Additionally, an oral quiz assessed knowledge and encouraged learning on various topics, including non-ophthalmology subjects. Notably, Aravind-Coimbatore hosted a debate competition that engaged participants in stimulating discussions. For MLOPs, the events included a preliminary skills test followed by a clue-based treasure hunt competition at Aravind-Madurai. The weeklong programme concluded with the final round of the MLOP skills test. Winners of the various competitions were awarded books related to their fields, recognising their exceptional performance.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 21^st July 2024

Aravind-Pondicherry organised a one-day programme to enhance the diagnostic skills of postgraduates from various hospitals through expert-led sessions and hands-on workshops. The key focus of the immersive programme included, Fundus Fluorescein Angiography, Macular OCT, B-Scan, Humphrey Visual Field Analysis, OCT Optic Nerve Head, Orbscan, Pentacam, Hess/Diplopia Charting, Visually Evoked Potential, and Electroretinogram. Additionally, the afternoon session featured a lively Kahoot quiz won by Dr. Anahita Shroff, DNB Resident, Aravind-Chennai, Dr. Preetika from Sree Balaji Medical College, Chennai, and Dr. Rathina Murare, MS Resident, Aravind-Madurai.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 17^th July 2024

The 115^th Vision Centre of the AECS in Kilpennathur, Tiruvannamalai district, was inaugurated by former District Governor MJF Ln. Dr. G. Narasimhan. During the event, Dr. R. Venkatesh, CMO, Aravind-Pondicherry, highlighted the purpose of the vision centres and their crucial role in providing eye care to the community. This centre is the 19th under Aravind-Pondicherry, further extending its service reach. On the first day, 85 patients were examined, and 15 were referred to the base hospital for further evaluation.

Aravind-Madurai, 23^rd July – 9^th August 2024

As part of the Resident Social Responsibility (RSR) programme, postgraduate residents from Aravind-Madurai joined hands with the Suvadugal Organisation to organise a self-awareness event at various government schools in Madurai.

On 23^rd July 2024, the RSR programme was held at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Mahaboopalayam, Madurai. Dr. Manoj gave an awareness talk on academic success and self-management, while Dr. Evangeline spoke about eye health awareness and hygiene. During the event, 20 selected girls from the 9^th and 11^th grades received educational kits containing a bag, notebooks, a pen kit, a tiffin box, a water bottle, and a set of uniforms.

Similarly, on 30^th July 2024, the RSR programme was conducted at Kaakkai Padiniyar Girls Higher Secondary School in Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai. Backiyaraj, a Suvadugal member, delivered the welcome address, followed by a brief talk by Dr. Sudha on general eye care. Dr. Subhashini, a gynaecologist, discussed menstrual hygiene. Twenty students were provided with the educational kits.

Finally, on 9^th August 2024, first-year residents visited Velli Veediyar Girls Higher Secondary School in Arapalayam, Madurai and distributed school essentials to 20 children. Dr. Shobhana gave a talk on the importance of eye care to the students.

Aravind- Tirunelveli/Coimbatore, 9^th and 12^th August 2024

On August 9^th, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised an event at the Vision Rehabilitation Centre where 57 Smart Vision Glasses were provided to patients with severe visual impairments. These Smart Vision Pro glasses, an assistive AI device for the visually challenged developed by Smart Health Global, were sponsored by Jiven Charitable Trust, a global non-profit organisation.

The event was led by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Dr. R. Meenakshi, and Dr. Fathima, Medical Consultant, Vision Rehabilitation Centre, the Low Vision Aids (LVA) programme, with participation from members of the Rotary Club of Madras East. Ramakrishnan, a former President of the Rotary Club of Madras East, spoke about the project. Madhavan, CEO, JM Fintech India Private Ltd. & Jiven Trust, elaborated about their CSR activities. Ibrahim, an AI engineer from Smart Health Global, Bengaluru, introduced the smart vision glasses and demonstrated their features. A video showcasing the milestones of the Vision Rehabilitation Centre was played, followed by a presentation by Dr. Fathima, who discussed the organisation’s services. Ibrahim then registered the devices with the beneficiaries’ smartphones and provided training on how to use the various features of the Smart Vision Glasses.

On August 12^th, a similar event was organised by Aravind-Coimbatore, where 26 Smart Vision Pro glasses, sponsored by Vision Aid, a global non-profit organisation, were distributed. Dr. Kalpana Narendran, Senior Medical Officer at Aravind-Coimbatore, led the event, with participation from Devi, Head, Vision Rehabilitation, Vision Aid, Dr. Sandra Ganesh, Medical Consultant, Vision Rehabilitation Centre, Aravind-Coimbatore, and Ibrahim.

The event featured a video highlighting the achievements of the Vision Rehabilitation Centre. Devi from Vision Aid spoke about the organisation’s services. An inspiring speech was delivered by Mubashira, a beneficiary, and Ananda Saravanan shared his experiences as a digital resource trainer at Aravind Eye Hospitals. Ibrahim concluded the event by registering the smart vision glasses with the beneficiaries’ smartphones.

Aravind-Madurai, 10^th August 2024

The International Association of Lions Clubs – District 324 B organised the Sight First Seminar in association with the AECS. Hosted by Aravind-Madurai, this annual seminar aimed to raise awareness about blindness and visual impairment among the newly elected office bearers for the year 2024-2025 and members.

The programme began with a welcome address by Ln. K. Arunakiri. PMJF Lion Dr. A. Sashikumar, District Governor of District 324 B, delivered the inaugural address, followed by a felicitation speech by PDG MJF Lion S. Murugesamoorthy. Dr. R. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai, delivered the keynote address.

The seminar featured various scientific sessions, led by Dr. A. Kowsalya, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai, R. Meenakshi  Sundaram, Senior Manager, Clinical Services, Aravind-Madurai, and D. Saravanan, Manager, Eye Bank, Aravind-Madurai. Dr. Kowsalya presented on common eye problems and the impact of diabetes on vision. R. Meenakshi Sundaram acknowledged the Lions Club’s contributions to eliminating preventable blindness and discussed how the newly elected officebearers could further support this mission. D. Saravanan shared important facts about eye donation and strategies to enhance donor rates with Lions Club support in 2024-2025.

PMJF Ln. CA. D. Selvam, First Vice District Governor, and PMJF Ln. Dr. N. Arumugam, Second vice District Governor, shared their observations and urged all Lions members to increase outreach programmes and promote awareness on eye donation. The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by MJF Ln. K. Thangadurai.

A total of 139 participants from Madurai and Sivagangai districts, including past District Governors, attended the seminar. The event was organised by MJF Ln. K. Arunakiri, District Chairperson for Sight First. Notably, this awareness seminar has been conducted annually for over two decades.

Aravind-Chennai, 10-11 August 2024

A two-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on Dacryology was conducted at ARCORE in Aravind-Chennai. Dr. Mohammed Javed Ali, Head of the Department of Dacryology at LV Prasad Eye Institute, India, and a pioneer in the lacrimal drainage system, was the chief guest. The programme featured enlightening talks by Dr. Javed Ali and other dignitaries, including Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. Purushothaman, an ENT and skull base surgeon, and Dr. Jayashree B, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty, Aravind-Chennai. Dr. Usha Kim delivered talks on topics such as, The significance of lacrimal system evaluation, epidemiology of CDC, and A surgical master class featuring live surgery. Participants also presented challenging cases for discussion. The second day included an interactive, hands-on live surgical demonstration of probing and endoscopic DCR by Dr. Javed Ali.

Rajasthan, 30^th July – 3^rd August 2024

Dr. Rodney John Morris, Medical Consultant, Retina Services, Aravind-Coimbatore and Yesunesan, Senior Faculty, LAICO, conducted a Seva GSI Onsite visit to Alak Nayan Mandhir Eye Hospital in Rajasthan. The visit aimed to understand the hospital’s operations and identify potential focus areas for improvement.

West Bengal, 24^th July – 27^th July 2024

Dr. Dipankar Datta, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Theni and Yesunesan, Senior Faculty, LAICO, conducted a follow-up visit to Rotary Hooghly Eye Hospital in West Bengal. The goal of this visit was to observe the overall changes made in the hospital to date and identify further areas for improvement.

Odisha/ Visakhapatnam, 29^th July – 3^rd August, and 5-9 August 2024

As part of the LEAP Collaborative series on Closing the loop, Dr. B. Harinikrishna, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Kovilpatti, and Suganya, Monitoring Executive, LAICO, conducted a gap assessment visit to Trilochan Netralaya in Odisha. The primary objective of the visit was to gain a deep understanding of the hospital and identify potential areas for improvement. They discussed with the hospital’s team and facilitated the development of an action plan to complete the service loop.

Similarly, a consultancy team including Sasi Priya, Senior Faculty, LAICO, and Dr. Venkata Sudheer, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirupati, conducted a gap assessment visit to Dr. Ramanu Raju Vision Tree Eye Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The main objective of this visit was to gain an understanding of the hospital’s current performance and identify potential focus areas for improvement.

LAICO, 23-26 July 2024

LAICO organised the 15^th batch of the Eyexcel – Excellence in Eye Care Training course, with participation from 10 teams comprising 30 participants from Cameroon and India. Each team focused on improving their training projects and creating a competency-based curriculum. The course featured several engaging interactive sessions, and project-based learning activities. Participants were also introduced to various training resources, interactive techniques, and assessment tools.

LAICO, 10^th August 2024

A valedictory event for the Fellowship in Eye Hospital Management course was held at LAICO. The event featured a keynote address by Thulsiraj Ravilla, Director Emeritus, LAICO,  and a welcome address by Dr. Krishnadas, Director, Fellowship and Physician Development Programme, AECS. The chief guest of the event was Dr. Murali Sambasivan, Director, Thiagarajar School of Management. The valedictory address was delivered by Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, AECS. This one-year course, which began on 1st August 2023, and concluded on 31^st July 2024, was attended by seven participants.

USA, 6-11 August 2024

Dr. Parag Shah, Chief, Paediatric Retina and Ocular Oncology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, participated in several key events during his visit to the USA.

Dr. Parag Shah visited the Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, USA, from 6-8 August 2024. On 7th August, he presented a talk titled “ROP Telescreening: The Aravind Experience” at the Grand Rounds. He joined Dr. Eileen Hwang, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah for ROP rounds and engaged in retina cases with Dr. Paul Bernstein, Director of Research and Chief of Retina Services. Additionally, he observed some of Dr. Jeff Pettey’s cataract cases utilising the Beyeonics microscope.

Following this, he delivered another presentation on “Environmental Sustainability Initiatives at Aravind” during the Global Ophthalmology Summit in Portland, held from 8-11 August 2024.

Dr. Jeff Petty, Professor & Clinical Vice-Chair, Moran Eye Centre, Dept. of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, remarked that Dr. Parag Shah’s visit, particularly his exceptional grand rounds on Aravind’s tele-retinal ROP care, has sparked discussions and led to several promising initiatives. These include plans to expand the tele-retinal network and lead a potential collaboration with Dr. Eileen Hwang, the hospital’s paediatric retina specialist.

Salem, 10^th August

Dr. S. Senthilkumari, Scientist, Ocular Pharmacology, Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF),  delivered  a talk at the 2nd National Symposium on Innovative Breakthroughs in Pharmacare—Nurturing Future Pharmacists 2024, held at Vivekananda Pharmacy College for Women, Sankagiri, Salem.

Title:  MicroRNA-based Therapeutics for Glaucoma