Aravind Eye Hospital extends heartfelt wishes for a flourishing and prosperous New Year – 2024, brimming with peace, love, and fulfilled hopes.

Aravind’s journey of continuous growth is marked by the growing number of vision centres, the expansion of infrastructure, and the pursuit of innovative initiatives. A recent milestone in this journey was reached with the inauguration of vision centres in Vettavalam and Kalakkad, significant additions that bring the total count to an impressive 110. The recent opening of a new hostel facility at Aurolab also signifies ongoing development. These efforts are directed towards providing the highest quality service to all.

Aravind implements impactful initiatives, including educational programmes and awareness campaigns, in its pursuit of this goal. The recently inaugurated Cataract Education Zone and the Office-Based Digital Resource Training programme at Aravind-Tirunelveli aim to benefit patients and empower them with information on crucial eye issues.

Furthermore, Aravind has proactively engaged with the community by organising various events on important days, including Myopia Awareness Week and World Prematurity Day.  This highlights Aravind’s excellence in eye care and its role in community well-being.

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

Note: The events that happened between 15^th November and 15^th December are featured here.

Hyderabad, 9-10 December

Dr. Jayasri K. N., Medical Consultant, Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai, won second prize in the poster podium presentation titled  Linezolid-induced toxic optic neuropathy: A case series.
Dr. Sabarinath A., MS Resident, Aravind-Madurai, received third prize in the poster podium presentation titled Visual outcome in patients treated with high-dose corticosteroids for indirect traumatic optic neuropathy.
Dr. Utami Noor Syabaniyah, Neuro Trainee, Aravind-Coimbatore, secured third prize in the poster podium presentation titled Nerve rattling infections: Clinical and radiological tracing of cranial nerve palsy due to skull base osteomyelitis.

Hyderabad, 17-19 November

Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, was presented with the Dr. PN Nagpal Outstanding Contribution in Ophthalmology Award in appreciation of his dedicated service and commitment in the field of ophthalmology at the conference held at the Leonia Convention Centre, Hyderabad.
Dr. Madhu Shekhar, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, Aravind-Madurai, received
Runner-up in the video competition for his video titled Unravel the clues of zonular compromise  and secured runner-up at the e-Poster competition for his poster titled MSICS in intralenticular metallic foreign body.
Dr. R. Sankarananthan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Salem, received the Best free paper award for the paper titled Objective assessment of simulated surgical outcomes using a manual small-incision surgery virtual reality simulator.
Dr. V. R. Vivekanandan, Chief, Cataract Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the Dr. Y. M. Paranjape Innovative Video award for the video titled A novel flanged method for iridadialysis repair.
Dr. Naveen Nischal, Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the Dr. Debasish Bhattacharya the Best Video Award for the video titled Flanged scleral fixation of IOL-A novel 4 flanged technique using a regular PMMA IOL.

Aravind-Madurai

Dr. Athul S. Puthalath, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai, won the “Seva Foundation 2023 – Call for Ideas” Project Grants.

Title: BLU (Blue Light Unit) Patch: The future of smartphone aided blue light photography in tele-ophthalmology, and READ – Rapid evaluation and diagnosis of external ocular lesions to aid in tele-ophthalmology

Aravind-Coimbatore

The Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Coimbatore, has brought out the eighth edition of Coimbatore Aravind Neuro-Ophthalmology Newsletter (CANN) with a focus on cases with systemic associations, reinforcing the fact that Neuro-Ophthalmology is not a solitary pursuit, but a collaborative journey. 

Aravind–Pondicherry, 22^nd November

Aravind’s 109^th vision centre was inaugurated at Vettavalam, Thiruvannamalai District. The inaugural ceremony was led by MJF Ln. Dr. G. Narasimman, Former District Governor, alongside MJF Ln. Sayar. Dr. D. Aravindhakumar, Former District Governor, MJF Ln. P. Ilangovan, GAT, Coordinator, and Dr. R. Venkatesh. At this centre, patients are examined remotely by doctors from the base hospital via telecommunications.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 8^th December

Aravind’s 110^th Vision Centre at Kalakkad was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Aravind-Tirunelveli, and attended by Dr. Sivasubramanian, Dr. Aruna, Thiru Rajan, Kalakkad Municipal Deputy Chairman, Aysha Banu, Ward Councillor, along with staff members, well-wishers, and patrons of Aravind. The event’s organising team included Dr. Haridass, Incharge–Vision Centres, Murugan, EMR Coordinator, Shanmuga Sundari, Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Alstin, Assistant Administrator, Stephen, VC Coordinator, Lakshmi, HR Manager, and Andal, Maintenance Coordinator. Notably, the inaugural day saw the screening of 57 patients.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 7^th December

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan inaugurated the Cataract Education Zone at Aravind-Tirunelveli, a significant initiative aimed at raising awareness among patients and their attendants about cataract surgery. The event witnessed the presence of Dr. R. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli, along with Anburaj and Narayanan from ALCON, and other staff members.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 6^th December

The Office Based Digital Resource Training initiative for the visually impaired was started at the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic as a part of the vocational training programme with the support of the Vision Aid project. This initiative was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan in the presence of Dr. R. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, and staff members. A demonstration of the software and other resources integral to the digital training programme was expertly presented by Selvi, Refractionist, Aravind-Tirunelveli who had previously undergone a course at Aravind-Madurai.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 29^th November- 2^nd December

Aravind-Pondicherry, organised a five-day exhibition, ‘Kannae, Nalamaa,’ with a focus on educating school and nursing college students, as well as patients and attenders. The exhibition featured interactive tools such as engaging 3D models, posters, and videos to impart crucial knowledge about eye care, diseases, and available treatment options. The MLOPs demonstrated eye care to the public at each stall. The exhibition reached over 1200 school children and more than 600 other attendees.

Aravind-Tirupati, 29^th November

Aravind-Tirupati recently hosted a Graduation Day ceremony for MLOPs who have successfully completed their training and are now assuming full-time roles at Aravind-Tirupati. The celebratory event commenced with candle lighting and the administration of the Florence Nightingale pledge. Trainees took the opportunity to share their valuable experiences gained during their training period. Kesav Kumar, Manager, Administration and Finance, addressed the graduates, emphasising the importance of cultivating the habit of saving. The ceremony also featured congratulatory remarks from Dr. S. Ashok Vardhan, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Preethi, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, and Dr. Peddireddy Hema, Medical Consultant, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, Aravind-Tirupati.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 26^th November

In connection with World Diabetes Day, Aravind –Tirunelveli organised a CME on the theme of diabetes and its broader implications. Distinguished external speakers, Dr. Selvaraj, Diabetologist, Dr. Sivaprakash, Endocrinologist, Dr. Thirulogachander, Cardiologist, Dr. V. Ramasubramanian, Nephrologist, Dr. Sivan Arul Selvam, Endocrinology & Diabetologist, Dr. Ananthi, Ophthalmologist, from Tirunelveli Medical College & Hospital; and internal speakers, Dr. Sherin Haroon M., Dr. Maneksha.V., Dr. Anitha V., Dr. Pooja Pawar, Dr. Ram Sudarshan R, and Dr. Syed Mohideen, handled insightful sessions on systemic manifestations and the latest advancements in diabetes management. There were discussions on the impact of diabetes on the cataract and cornea, alongside presentations on epidemiology, clinical features, and the management of diabetic retinopathy.

Additionally, a quiz competition was conducted. A total of 80 participants, comprising fellows and postgraduates from Aravind, as well as postgraduates from the departments of Ophthalmology and General Medicine, Tirunelveli, and Tuticorin Medical Colleges, took part in the event.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 20-26 November

MYOPIA has emerged as a growing concern for children, with an estimated 50% of the population expected to be affected by 2050. Mindful of this, the Myopia Clinic under the Paediatric Ophthalmology Department of Aravind-Coimbatore organised a myopia awareness week activity with the theme #GoGreenLessScreen. This week-long campaign was dedicated to enlightening the public about childhood myopia, its causes, and how outdoor sports and minimising screen time can effectively prevent and slow down the progression of myopia in children.

To draw attention to this issue, group counselling sessions were conducted, specifically targeting attendants of daycare cataract surgery patients. The awareness activity attracted nearly 200 participants, including supportive staff, administrative personnel, and visitors.

Aravind-Tirupati

At Aravind-Tirupati, an exhibition was organised on the theme of “More green less screen” featuring educational posters about the risk factors of myopia, how to prevent it, and the importance of using glasses. Notably, these posters are made of cardboard and colour paint.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 25^th November

Organised by the Biomedical Engineering Department of Aravind-Pondicherry, the 4^th Workshop on Instruments Maintenance was inaugurated by Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry. During the event, Dr. Venkatesh unveiled the second edition of the “Handbook on Instrument and Equipment Maintenance,” which was warmly received by Prof. N. Manickam, Instrument and Maintenance, Aravind-Madurai. The workshop featured comprehensive training, including PowerPoint presentations, instructional videos, and live demonstrations on maintaining, cleaning, and repairing various ophthalmic instruments. The session concluded with an interactive Kahoot quiz and an awards ceremony to recognise participants’ efforts. Over 110 skilled optometrists and biomedical engineers attended.

Madurai, 21^st November

Organised by the Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank, Aravind-Madurai, at Gandhi Museum, Madurai, D. Saravanan, Manager, Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank, handled a session on eye donation and the role of students in eye donation. The event was presided over by Nandha Rao, Secretary, and R. Natarajan, Education Officer, Gandhi Museum. A total of 60 participants took part.

Aravind, 17^th November

Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, and Coimbatore observed World Prematurity Day by displaying awareness posters to emphasize the importance of early and prompt screening and treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).

During the event held at Aravind-Tirunelveli, organised for parents of ROP babies, Dr. Syed Mohideen, Chief, Retina Services, Dr. Fathima, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Department, Aravind-Tirunelveli, delivered talks to raise awareness. Dr. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, addressed the parents about the significance of ROP follow-up. A total of 73 families of ROP babies, especially those who had undergone laser/injections, participated in this programme.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 17^th November

To commemorate the initiation of a new journey, Aravind-Pondicherry organised a graduation day for the MLOPs. The ceremony was led by Dr. R. Venkatesh, Dr. Veena K., Regional HR Director, Pondicherry & Salem, as well as MLOP in-charge doctors, Dr. Josephine Christy, and Dr. Sivagami. This graduation day signified the transition of MLOP sisters from trainee positions to full-time employees. The graduates administered the Florence Nightingale pledge during the occasion.

West Bengal, 1st December

Dr. S. Senthilkumari Srinivasan Scientist, Ocular Pharmacology, AMRF delivered a talk at the scientific symposium of the conference organised by the Departments of Physiology & Pharmacology, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal.
Title: Innovations and translations in ocular therapeutics: Innovative Ex vivo model of Human organ-cultured anterior segment (HOCAS) for screening of drugs for glaucoma

Namakkal, 11^th December

Dr. S. Senthilkumari delivered a talk at the 7^th National Conference on “Emerging Infectious Diseases and Novel Drug Development (EID-NDD 2023)” held at Swamy Vivekananda College of Pharmacy, Namakkal.
Title: Human amniotic membrane (HAM) as a drug reservoir for ocular anti-microbial agents: An implication in ocular infections

Aurolab, 1^st December

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Trustee, Aurolab & Chairman Emeritus, AECS, Dr. G. Natchiar, Trustee, Aurolab & Director Emeritus – Human Resources, AECS inaugurated two significant events held at Aurolab. The ceremonies included the Boomi Pooja for the New Eye Drops Facility and the inauguration of the newly constructed Production Staff Hostel.

Aurolab, 17^th November

To celebrate the milestone of Aurolab’s suture division reaching 25 years, a campaign was launched to honour the hard work and achievements of the division. Organised by Premanand, Product Manager, Aurolab, the campaign started with a welcome address by SSG. Krishnan, National Sales Manager of Special Projects, Aurolab. R.D. Sriram, Managing Director, Aurolab, and Dr. P. Balakrishnan, Emeritus Managing Director, delivered inspiring speeches. The chief guest, Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit and Oculoplasty, Aravind–Madurai, delivered a special talk during the event. SSG. Krishnan unveiled the campaign uniform, badges, and technical guide to Musathik, Sales Team Member. Dr. Balakrishnan launched a video showcasing the Suture division’s milestone. Sivanand and Deepak, Area Sales Managers shared their thoughts at the occasion. As part of this campaign, Aurolab distributed the employee kit to the suture division, marketing and sales team members. At the end of the event, the suture-experiencing booth was inaugurated by Dr. Usha Kim at the Aurolab premises. This booth was set up to highlight the significance of Aurolab’s product in facilitating doctors for their immense work.

Aurolab, 17^th November – 3^rd December

Aurolab team actively participated in several conferences, involving in talks, demonstrations, and product showcases. Here are the highlights of their engagements:

5^th Biennial World Conference of ISMSICS
Dr. Merle Fernandes, and Dr. Vivek M. Singh Conducted deferred live surgeries, sharing their experiences and demonstrating the benefits of implanting Aurovue Vivid CFV IOL and Aurovue EV Toric IOL, respectively. The conference was organised by the Hyderabad Eye Institute, Hyderabad on 17-19 November.

39^th Annual Conference ‘OSOCON 2023′
Organised by the Odisha State Ophthalmological Society, in Odisha.

50^th Annual Conference ‘KSOS 2023’
Organised by the Kerala Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons in Thrissur on 24^th November.

32^nd Annual Conference ‘VRSI 2023’
Aurolab unveiled the revolutionary Phoenix Multi-Spot Photocoagulation green laser system designed to transform retinal therapy at the conference, organised by the Vitreo Retinal Society – India, held in Kerala on 1-3 December. Dr. Naresh Babu Kannan, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai, delivered a talk on Perfluorocarbon liquid in the management of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

57^th Annual Conference ‘UPSOS 2023’
Organised by the UP State Ophthalmological Society, in Prayagraj.

56^th Annual Conference “OSA 2023”
Organised by the Ophthalmological Society of Assam on 2-3 December in Assam.

22-24 November

As part of a gap analysis under the LEAP Enhancing Cataract Surgical Outcome series, Dr. Madhu Sekhar, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, Aravind-Madurai, and D. Yesunesan, Senior Faculty, LAICO, visited Himalaya Eye Hospital in Pokhara, Nepal on 4-8 December. The objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the hospital’s systems and protocols, particularly focusing on clinical outcomes. The team interacted with the management, clinical leaders, and staff. The team will collaborate with Himalaya Eye Hospital for the next 12 months, with the overarching goal of achieving a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 6/12 or better in 90% of the cataract-operated eyes.

In a similar visit,a team comprising Dr. Vishwaraj, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, B. Udayakumar, Senior Faculty, LAICO, and microbiologists from Aurolab, visited Loknayak Jaiprakash Eye Hospital, Behana, Hazaribag, Jharkhand, on 22-24 November. The purpose of the onsite visit was to perform a gap analysis and provide recommendations to adapt best practices for enhancing their cataract surgical outcome.

LAICO, 16^th November- 4^th December

LAICO organised the 51st batch of the ‘Certificate Course on Community Outreach and Social Marketing of Eye Care Services, featuring classroom sessions on demand generation, service marketing, GIS planning, and eye care need estimation for the service area population. A total of eight participants from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nepal, and India attended the course, engaging in meetings with community sponsors and participating in various types of eye camps. They had the opportunity to observe counselling sessions, received training in developing health education materials, and attended eye camp monitoring meetings. Towards the end of the training, they developed outreach action plans for their respective hospitals, committing to implement these plans upon returning to their organisations.

Erode, 1-3 December

Dr. Virna Shah, Chief, Neuro-ophthalmology, Aravind – Coimbatore
– Interpretation of Visual Fields & Optical Coherence Tomography in Neuro-Ophthalmology (Talk)
TANCON-2023 CME book was published, in which three articles were contributed by postgraduates from Coimbatore.
1. Dr. Sujay Jaju
– Ocular insights into the cerebral world: The vital role of neuro-ophthalmology
2. Dr. Chinmay Mahatme
– Visual fields in neuro-ophthalmology (Basics, Interpretation and Clinical Importance)
3. Dr. Ruhel Chacko
– Optical coherence tomography in neuro-ophthalmology

Pondicherry, 26^th November

Dr. Shreeya Hinge, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Pondicherry
– A case involving intraocular eyelashes following a penetrating injury (Podium Presentation)
Dr.  K. Naresh Babu K., Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai
– 3D solution to everyday surgeries (Key Note Address)
– Surgical retina update (Co-chaired the session)
Dr. Renu P. Rajan, Medical Consultant, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai
– Surgical management of proliferative retinopathies
Dr. Indu G., Medical Consultant, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Chennai
– Understanding the Pachychoroid spectrum
– Retinal laser photocoagulation and Intravitreal injections (Resource person at the Hands-on Workshop)
Dr. Manavi D. Sindal, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Pondicherry
– Choice of anti-VEGFs: Choosing and switching!
– Evolution of Biosimilars: Are they all same? (INTAS sponsored talk)

Trivandrum, 01 – 02 December

Dr. R. Kim, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai
– Introduction of Dr. Patnaik (Oration Awardee)
– Wise counsel in Debates Surgical session
– Wise Counsel in Diabetic Macular Edema session
Dr. K. Naresh Babu, Chief- Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai
– Perflurocarbon liquid in the management of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Wise counsel in Unconventional course

Dr. Muthukrishnan, Medical Consultant, Retina and Vitreous services, Aravind-Madurai
–  Surgical Removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane in age related macular degeneration: A Retrospective analysis
Dr. Bhavani, Medical Consultant, Retina and Vitreous services, Aravind-Madurai
– Don’t judge a book by its cover: Don’t judge a new vessel by its location in fundus (E-poster)
Dr. Renu P. Rajan, Medical Consultant, Retina and Vitreous services, Aravind-Madurai
– Lucky to be born a premature baby (E-poster)
Dr. Sivadarshan, Medical Consultant, Retina and Vitreous services, Aravind-Madurai
– Misery loves company!! A tale of Takayasu Arteritis (E-poster)
Dr. Ananya Goswami, Medical Consultant, Retina and Vitreous services, Aravind-Madurai
–  Couching of Intraocular lens in microphthalmic eyes with irido-fundal coloboma: Revisiting history
Dr. Avik Dey Sarkar, Medical Consultant, Retina and Vitreous services, Aravind-Madurai
– Outbreak of toxic anterior segment syndrome following vitreo retinal surgery: A retrospective analysis