Activity Report 19-20

Saravanan VR, Manayath GJ, Reshma B, Rupesh A, Ding J, Sen P, Rousselot A, Sandra CG, Jayadev NA, Oguego N M, Ratnesh Ranjan, Freund KB, Sarraf D. Chan A, Nivison-Smith L, Wei X, Mahajan Kalpana Narendran, Shilpa G Rao. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges. S, Kim R, Mishra C, Agarwal M, Suh MH, Nasal loop myopexy as a primary procedure to Retina. 2020 Jan 30. [Epub] Luthra S, Munk MR, Cheung CY, correct exotropia hypotropia complex in high Gupta V. myopia. Kiss N, Homa M, Manikandan P, Mythili Exploring choroidal angioarchitecture in health Strabismus. 2019 Dec;27(4):223-229. A, Krizsán K, Revathi R, Varga M, Papp T, and disease using choroidal vascularity index. Vágvölgyi C, Kredics L, Kocsubé S. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2020 Jan 10:100829. Gurnani B, Kaur K, Gireesh P. New Species of the Genus Curvularia: C. [Epub] Traumatic anterior dislocation of the tamilnaduensis and C. coimbatorensis from crystalline lens in a quite eye. Fungal Keratitis Cases in South India. Chidambaram JD, Prajna NV, Srikanthi P, Trauma. 2019 May 1. [Epub] Pathogens. 2019 Dec 20;9(1). pii: E9. Shruti L, Manisha Shah, Elakkiya S, Lalitha P, Macleod D, Burton MJ. Gurnani B, Mandlik K, Kaur K, Pavithra S, Kavitha S, Odayappan A. Cellular morphological changes detected by Shivananda N. Steroid Induced Glaucoma in a Child laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy Penetrating ocular trauma from a pencil lead. with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia – An associated with clinical outcome in fungal Trauma. 2019:1-2. [Epub] Overlooked Complication. keratitis. Pediatr Oncall J. 2020:17. Sci Rep. 2019;9:8334. Jyoti Rani A, Veena K, Fredrick M, Anjali K. Wright CB, Uehara H, Kim Y, Yasuma T, Delana K, Deo S, Ramdas K, Wilson’s disease and the eye. Yasuma R, Hirahara S, Makin RD, Apicella Ganesh Babu B, Thulasiraj RD. Tro J Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. I, Pereira F, Nagasaka Y, Narendran S, Multichannel delivery in healthcare: the impact 2019;4(1):35-37. Fukuda S, Albuquerque R, Fowler BJ, of telemedicine centers in Southern India. Bastos-Carvalho A, Georgel P, Hatada I, SSRN E-Journal. 2020 Jan. [Epub] Chang B, Kerur N, Ambati BK, Ambati J, Gelfand BD. Sandra CG, Shilpa GR, Kalpana N. Chronic Dicer1 deficiency promotes atrophic Clinical evaluation of graded Anderson’s and neovascular outer retinal pathologies in procedure in idiopathic infantile nystagmus. mice. Strabismus. 2019 Sep;27(3):139-142. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Feb 4;117(5):2579-2587. Congratulations Authors... JAMA - One of the top 10 articles of the decade (2010 – 2019) Gulshan V, Peng L, Coram M, Stumpe MC, Wu D, Narayanaswamy A, Venugopalan S, Widner K, Madams T, Cuadros J, Kim R, Raman R, Nelson PC, Mega JL, Webster DR. Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Algorithm for Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy in Retinal Fundus Photographs. JAMA. 2016 Dec 13;316(22):2402-2410. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.17216. Obstbaum Award for Best Paper in JCRS 2019 Haripriya A, Chang DF, Ravindran RD. Endophthalmitis reduction with intracameral moxifloxacin in eyes with and without surgical complications: Results from 2 million consecutive cataract surgeries. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2019 Sep;45(9):1226-1233. doi: 10.1016/ j.jcrs.2019.04.018. Epub 2019 Jul 29. AIOS-IJO Silver Award 2020 Sara SH, Prajna NV, Senthilkumari S. Human amniotic membrane as a drug carrier - An in-vitro study using fortified cefazolin ophthalmic solution. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2019;67(4):472-475. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1336_18 One among the 10 Most Downloaded Papers in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics during January 2018 - December 2019 Joseph S, Krishnan T, Ravindran RD, Maraini G, Camparini M, Chakravarthy U, Ravilla TD, Hutchings A, Fletcher AE. Prevalence and risk factors for myopia and other refractive errors in an adult population in southern India.Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2018 May;38(3):346-358. 51

Consultancy and Capacity Building LAICO continues to expand its capacity building initiatives - currently engaged in mentoring 43 eye hospitals across the world.With the support of funding partners, it is able to enhance the productivity and quality of care in these hospitals. In recent years, LAICO’s focus has been to advocate for and spread the vision centre model across the Indian subcontinent. Proven to be a cost-effective approach to achieve universal eye care coverage, Aravind vision centres provide an ideal primary eye care delivery model for the developing world. LAICO has packaged this sustainable and scalable model to support governments and NGOs in replicating its impact. Another important thrust area for LAICO has been health services research and publication aimed at generating evidence for best practices in eye care delivery. As a result, the number of research publications has considerably increased and there are around ten health services research projects currently underway. Consultancy and Capacity Building incision cataract surgery, microsurgery and post- Programmes operative management. At the performance review meeting conducted during April 11-15, 2019 in Dubai, African Centres of Excellence in Cataract Surgical each hospital presented its annual performance against Services (ACCESS) Phase II the target set, as well as the goals for the upcoming year. Each element of the presentation was analysed The twin aim of this project is to improve cataract and discussed in detail, leading to recommendations surgical rate in Sub Saharan Africa as well as the visual for action to further improve the performance. The five outcomes. As part of this, teams from LAICO and participating hospitals had performed 12,860 cataract Aravind have been making regular visits for on-site surgeries. This translates to 6,259 additional cataract mentoring to all the five participating hospitals. In surgeries, which is a 95% increase from the baseline. response to a request from Kitwe Central Hospital Considerable improvement was also achieved in in Zambia, Dr. V. Raghuram, Cornea Consultant, post-operative visual outcomes. Visual acuity of 6/18 Aravind-Madurai made a special trip and spent three or better, averaged 61.6% in the baseline year and this weeks in August 2019 to train their residents in small improved to 77.7%, falling just a bit short of the 80% Participants of ACCESS review meeting 52

Dr.V. Raghuram with Kitwe Eye Hospital, Zambia team Enhancing Eye Care Services in the Indian Subcontinent goal with available correction, set by WHO. In order to establish the long-term visual outcomes, something The capacity building initiative supported by Lavelle desired by all the hospitals, an independent assessment Fund for the Blind ended in 2019. The project aimed was carried out on 50 randomly selected cataract to help 25 eye hospitals in the Indian sub-continent to operated patients from each hospital. This assessment enhance their efficiency and quality, thus optimising was done by Dr. John Anhalt (Academic Global their capacity. This would make them financially Ophthalmology - Wills Eye Hospital) and Dr. Joseph L sustainable as well as proactively address the Licht (Emory Global Ophthalmology Fellow). Overall community’s eye care needs. For the calendar year 2019, 88% of the patients had a best-corrected visual acuity of these hospitals, from India and Bangladesh, collectively 6/18 or better in the operated eye. performed 108,415 cataract surgeries. This works out to 39,578 additional surgeries-a 57% increase from Strengthening Capacity and Learning to the baseline. Throughout the project period, all these Effectively Deliver Quality Eye Care (SCALE) partner hospitals benefited from LAICO’s strategic guidance, periodic review, yearly benchmarking The capacity building project funded by Seeing is meetings, access to Aravind’s training programs, IT Believing (SIB), through Seva Foundation started in support and onsite visits. 2016 and ended in December 2019. The total annual performance in 2019, of all 13 mentee hospitals was Supporting Free Cataract Surgeries 103,109 cataract surgeries. This represents a 45% increase from their baseline cataract surgeries of 32,046. As part of the World Sight Day commemoration, LAICO organised a performance review meeting SEVA Foundation through LAICO supported 2,100 involving all the active mentees at PBMA’s H.V. Desai free cataract surgeries performed by seven of LAICO’s Eye Hosptial, Pune from July 5 to 6, 2019. A total of 25 mentee eye hospitals in SEVA Global Sight Initiative participants from 9 hospitals attended the meet. With network. support from SEVA Foundation, LAICO also conducted an online survey on the effectiveness of the mentoring LEAP: Together Towards Excellence - A process involving six mentor hospitals and 56 mentees Collaborative Series associated with the project. The first series in LEAP focusing on enhancing cataract SCALE mentors’ meeting was organised at LAICO on surgical intervention rate amongst the paying walk- September 29, 2019. Representatives from all six mentor in patients ended in September 2019. The goal was to hospitals participated. The meeting discussed the way ensure that all those who will benefit from cataract forward in making the vision of Global Sight Initiative a surgery, end up getting it. The year-long collaborative reality. This was done in conjunction with the October work showed that the intervention rate, i.e. the cataract Summit event “Enhancing Eye Care through Effective surgeries as a proportion of outpatients, went up Mentoring” organised by LAICO. significantly in hospitals that were able to implement the improvement strategies. Overall, the participating hospitals were able to increase the intervention rate resulting in a total 1,711 additional cataract surgeries. In July 2019, the second collaborative was rolled out with a focus to enhance the efficiency of outreach services. Three hospitals enrolled in this series and two learning sessions were conducted, in June and December respectively. Within the first 3 months of engagement in this collaborative, the average outpatients per camp increased by 18% and surgeries by 12% compared to the baseline of 133 outpatients and 26 surgeries respectively. Because of this enhanced efficiency, even with the same number of camps, the hospitals surpassed the baseline volumes. 53

Developing Eye Hospitals in Northern India enhance low vision services in Kerala state. Through a series of discussions, it was decided to custom design a LAICO was honoured by the visit of Shri. Suresh Kumar structured training and capacity building programme Khanna senior Cabinet Minister of Govt. of for Optometrists and participating eye hospitals from Uttar Pradesh (UP) for Finance, Parliamentary Affairs all districts in Kerala. As part of this, the first batch and Medical Education. He and the government team of six optometrists /ophthalmic assistants from three that accompanied him studied the caregiving operations eye hospitals in the state participated in a month-long of Aravind at the community, secondary and tertiary training at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai during April- levels as well as gained an in-depth understanding of the May 2019. Subsequently, a strategic planning workshop training programmes for Allied ophthalmic Personnel for these hospitals was facilitated by LAICO from May (AOP) and ophthalmologists. The purpose was to 31-June 1, 2019. see how the effective eye care delivery of the Aravind model could be replicated in Uttar Pradesh. This whole Replicating Aravind Vision Centre Model cross-learning exercise was facilitated by Shri. Rajeev Agarwal, an entrepreneur from UP, with operations The proven effectiveness of the Aravind model of both in India and the US. primary eye care delivery through telemedicine enabled vision centres has captured the attention of several Considering the huge eye care needs in Uttar Pradesh governments and eye care providers. Some expressed and to address the backlog of blindness, LAICO, their interest in replicating this model in their settings. at the request of Shri. Rajeev Agarwal, proposed a In response to this, LAICO provided technical support special initiative to build the capacity and capability to the Govt. of Tamil Nadu for setting up 32 vision in willing eye hospitals in UP. As a first step towards centres spread across all districts in the state. this, a meeting was organised at Sitapur Eye Hospital, LAICO received a request from Sitapur Eye Hospital, on January 11 to understand the willingness to be part UP, to help improve the efficiency of its vision centres. of this initiative of Sitapur branch eye hospitals that Aravind conducted an online test to understand the were invited to this meeting. Representatives from 10 clinical competency level of the technicians. The scores branch hospitals of Sitapur, LV Prasad Eye Institute in discussion with the leadership team of Sitapur and programme managers from INGOs like SightSavers helped in designing an appropriate onsite training International and Christoffel Blinden Mission programme. A four-member team from Aravind made participated in this meeting. While all showed interest, a visit to Sitapur during January 27-31, 2020 to get four hospitals from this cohort were identified to be first-hand knowledge of their vision centre operations, mentored by LAICO, in the first phase. issues and skills of technicians. The team conducted a vision building and strategic planning workshop for the Enhancing Low Vision Services in Kerala staff. A detailed action plan was developed to enhance the efficiency of the vision centres. As a follow-up to Kerala Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons (KSOS) reached this, vision centre core team from Sitapur Eye Hospital out to Aravind Eye Hospital, seeking assistance to made a visit to Aravind-Madurai from February 24-29, 2020 to understand several aspects of vision centre At the strategic planning workshop for enhancing low vision management. services in Kerala Aravind has been working with the Govt. of Bangladesh for the past few years in setting up vision centres across the country. In the second phase of this initiative, Aravind team helped National Institute of Ophthalmology to set up 30 vision centres around Rajshahi and Rangpur Medical Colleges in Bangladesh, taking the total to 50 vision centres. Staff from these centres were trained at Aravind-Madurai and Tirunelveli in multiple batches. This included skill assessment and certification. Apart from working with governments, LAICO also works with individual hospitals that have the potential and desire to run vision 54

Aravind team visiting a vision centre run by Sitapur Eye from the Senior Management team of Aravind, LAICO Hospital, UP organised this workshop to review the benchmarked performance of seven of the larger Aravind Eye centres. Such requests came from two hospitals -Netaji Hospitals-Madurai, Tirunelveli, Theni, Coimbatore, Eye Hospital, Ramchandrapur and Rotary Hooghly Eye Pondicherry, Salem and Chennai. Various metrics for Hospital, both in West Bengal. The hospitals’ plans and the year 2018 were analysed - outpatient visits, surgery proposals were reviewed and finalised by the LAICO proportion, quality outcomes, specialty services, team. Subsequently, with Seva’s funding support, opticals delivery, staff productivity and punctuality. LAICO facilitated the establishment of four vision Over 30 senior staff including chief medical officers centres (three for Netaji and one for Rotary). from across these centres participated. As this was found to be very useful and educative, this comparative Capacity Building Project in Indonesia benchmarking across hospitals is being integrated into the “parameter” meetings which is an in-depth Senior management team from PT Elang Medika performance review done in each hospital. Corpora, Indonesia visited LAICO during January 27-29, 2020 to get exposure to the Aravind model Teaching and Training and to develop a business plan towards establishing a secondary eye hospital at Sentul, Indonesia. The team Onsite Training visited Andipatti vision centre and Aravind - Theni to get more insights and ideas for successfully running a Management Training Programme for Heads of Eye secondary eye hospital. Hospitals/Departments Support to Aravind Centres Upon request from Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF), China, a team consisting of Dr. Shivakumar As is customary for any of Aravind’s new hospitals, Chandrashekar, Chief, Cataract & IOL services, LAICO organised a vision building workshop for the Aravind-Tirunelveli and Mr. Sanil Joseph, Senior start-up team of Aravind Eye Hospital, Kovilpatti Faculty, LAICO conducted a training programme for at Tirunelveli during September 24-25, 2019. The leaders and management staff of FHF partner hospitals workshop deliberated on the service area population, at Kunming, China from May 28- 30, 2019. Over 20 expected patient load and outreach programmes and persons from 14 hospitals attended. came up with detailed operational action plans. Follow up visit to Comprehensive Community Based Benchmarking of Aravind Facilities Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Aravind-Madurai, April 9-10 Dr. R. Sankarananthan, Medical Officer, Cataract LAICO for years had been running benchmarking Services, Aravind-Madurai made a second visit to workshops for its mentee hospitals as a cross- CCBRT, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from May 25- learning platform. In this, the performance data are June 1, 2019, to train doctors in phacoemulsification converted into comparable metrics so as to learn from the variations. This exercise was done for Aravind’s Dr. R. Sankarananthan with Dr. Bedan, Dr. Cyprian and network of hospitals for the first time. With guidance Ms. Anastezia at CCBRT, Dar es Salaam,Tanzania 55

technique. During this visit, he also participated in Mr.Thulasiraj Ravilla at the ARC - AIOS 2020 Leadership the 7th Congress of the Ophthalmological Society of Development Programme Eastern Central and Southern Africa (COECSA) held in Rwanda during August 21-23, 2019. employee engagement, dealing with digital dilemmas as well as improving profitability. This is being done Eyexcel Bangladesh for the third time for the Academic and Research Committee of AIOS. Following the successful conduct of Eyexcel Global for over a decade at Madurai, the course is being offered Aurosiksha annually in Nepal by Seva Nepal and in Latin America by Visualiza, Guatemala since 2016. For the first time, Aurosiksha focused on Allied Ophthalmic Personnel LAICO organised Eyexcel in Bangladesh exclusively for (AOP) now features a monthly quiz feature for all its eye care training institutions in the country, with the subscribers. The monthly quiz focuses on a specific support of Seva Foundation, USA and the International theme and invites learners to test themselves and offers Council of Ophthalmology (ICO). The course was additional learning resources for them to refresh their hosted by Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute Dhaka from knowledge. Since December 2019, the monthly quizzes November 11-21, 2019. Eight teams (25 participants) have been taken by over a thousand respondents. In from seven Institutions attended. LAICO faculty, terms of new resources, twelve new skill evaluation Ms. Dhivya Ramasamy and Mr. Sanil Joseph anchored rubrics have been developed. the course along with Dr. Karl Golnik from ICO. Eyexcel alumni from Bangladesh also contributed as The Aurosiksha Learning Management System resource persons for teaching and facilitation of group was implemented at Aravind Eye Hospitals Madurai discussions. and Pondicherry, for the Refraction and Opticals Leadership Development Programme: Academic and Research Committee - All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) Gurugram, Haryana, February 12 LAICO organised the daylong session as part of the Leadership Development Programme of the Academic and Research Committee of AIOS. The programme was for a cohort of ophthalmologists wanting to improve their practice management and leadership skills. The session, held a day before the start of the annual conference of AIOS focused on patient centred care, Dr. Shivakumar Chandrashekar and Mr. Sanil Joseph with participants of Management Training Programme for Heads of Eye Hospitals held at Kunming, China 56

consulting framework and best practices. It brought in like-minded institutions working in the field of health care, to share their best practices and the way they achieve the overall goal of helping client organisations improve. Participants got an opportunity to learn and adopt new ideas as well as think beyond their current practices and limitations. A total of 37 individuals from eye hospitals, consulting companies and management institutions participated. Dr. Kedar Mate handling a training session for the staff Developing an Effective Workforce: Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) department trainees. Through this system, the conduct of classes, attendance, skills practice and LAICO, September 30-October 1 skills assessment using appropriate rubrics are all Creating an effective AOP cadre poses two major sets of tracked. This system was also used to conduct online challenges relating to: (1) effective training and assessments for over 200 MLOPs at Aravind Eye (2) getting the best out of AOP at work. This Hospitals and 17 vision centre technicians of Sitapur Eye consultative workshop brought together organisations Hospital, UP. that face these issues and deliberate on ways to overcome these challenges and to share best practices A team from Tilganga Eye Hospital, Kathmandu, and relevant resources. Around 40 people participated. Nepal underwent an in-depth training in the development of online learning resources in December Internal Capacity Building 2019. Dr. Kedar Mate, Chief Innovation and Education Officer October Summit from Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston, USA came as a Fulbright scholar and spent over a Enhancing Eye Care through Effective Mentoring month at LAICO during December 2019-January 2020 to coach the LAICO team on the art and science of LAICO, September 27-29 bringing about improvement in a systematic manner. This workshop was designed to learn from consulting This has equipped the LAICO team to better run the companies and management institutions about the LEAP collaborative series which is all about working intensely with participating hospitals, over a year to bring about improvements in the areas focused in each of the collaborative series. Participants at Eyexcel Bangladesh 57

Health Services Research 3. Evaluation of effectiveness of the low-cost, portable, accurate autorefractor to provide well-tolerated As part of expanding the research capacity building eyeglass prescriptions initiatives, Aravind team, upon request from Preethi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Madurai 4. Validation of non-ophthalmologist graders in conducted Research Methodology workshops for DNB identifying diabetic retinopathy through tele-retinal residents from various clinical specialities. LAICO’s imaging. weekly journal club discussed 42 research publications with active participation from all Aravind centres. 5. Comprehensive eye care work Assessment study in Eleven articles based on health services research (HSR) Theni district of Tamilnadu studies were published in indexed journals during the 6. Study on evaluating the effectiveness of mentoring last year. process, from mentees perspective, in SCALE capacity building initiative Following are the ongoing research projects under HSR: 7. Enablers and barriers for accepting cataract surgery 1. Effectiveness of tele-ophthalmology in providing in secondary eye hospital settings comprehensive primary eye care in rural southern 8. Perfecting refraction in India with superior service models: A cluster-randomised controlled trial of India three models of school-based spectacle service delivery in India 2. Impact of electronic medical record implementation on patients and care providers in tertiary eye hospitals Projects Listed below are the projects currently managed by LAICO 1. Diabetic Retinopathy Project at Aravind-Tirunelveli: funded by Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust through Public Health Foundation of India 2. RoP Project at Aravind-Tirunelveli: funded by Scope International through the Seeing is Believing initiative 3. Refractive Error among Children at Aravind-Madurai: funded by Orbis-India 4. Affordable treatment for low socio-economic patients with painful corneal ulcer at Aravind-Madurai: funded by Scope International through the Seeing is Believing initiative 5. Equipment support for better diagnosis of corneal ulcers at Aravind-Madurai: funded by Scope International through the Seeing is Believing initiative 6. Developing an affordable and contemporary corneal storage medium at Aravind-Madurai: funded by Scope International through the Seeing is Believing initiative 7. Eye Care for Tibetan refugees in India at Aravind-Coimbatore: funded by Seva Foundation 8. Innovative approach to strengthening comprehensive eye examination in outreach activities including the use of EMR at Aravind-Pondicherry: funded by Scope International through the Seeing is Believing initiative 9. Retinopathy of prematurity project at Aravind-Theni: funded by FDC Limited, Mumbai 10. Vision centre projects (Cycle 7): funded by TOMS through Seva Foundation 11. Vision centre projects (Cycle 9) for 3 VCs: funded by TOMS Seva Foundation 12. Dr. V’s birth centenary commitment towards setting up of 10 vision centres: funded by Seva Foundation 13. Providing optimal care for economically disadvantaged people with ocular trauma at Aravind- Madurai: funded by Standard Chartered Global Business Services (GBS) Pvt Ltd 58

Research The latest gene augmentation therapy for a minor sub-group of retinitis pigmentosa is a sensational first ever direct gene delivery-based treatment for any human disease. Basic concepts known for years have been validated and shown to be effective in gene-based one-time treatment of a disorder. This progress demonstrates the fruitful collaboration of clinicians and basic scientists and highlights the essential role of industrial partnership. Bench to clinic to personal medicine is no longer a dream and one-time gene augmentation therapy comes of age with the approval of the gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa by the regulatory agencies. Sustained support for basic research and intense collaboration between basic and clinician scientists will yield significant benefits to the patients as has been advocated by Aravind Eye Care system since inception. Molecular Genetics Furthermore, the department also uses an integrated approach with clinical, genetic and computational The research group focuses on unveiling the ocular analyses for other paediatric eye diseases such as LCA, genetics and other allied mechanisms of many inherited JXLR and LHON to underpin the underlying molecular disorders including macular corneal dystrophy cause. Characterising the candidate genes of these (MCD), Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON; disorders, their mutation spectrum and establishing mitochondrial disorder), retinal dystrophies (RDs) the genotype-phenotype correlations will be useful to such as Stargardt, Best disease, Usher syndrome (USH), comprehend the disease prognosis and further gain Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), Leber’s congenital insights into pathogenesis and progression. amaurosis (LCA) and Juvenile X-linked retinoschisis (JXLR). Research is going on to understand the Genetic studies of ocular cancers are carried out corneal microstructural changes and associated to investigate the major challenges of cancer such as immunophenotypes of Indian MCD patients due to chemoresistance, tumour progression and recurrence. corresponding candidate CHST6 gene mutations. Cancer stem cells denoted by specific markers are In addition, the team employed next-generation found to be responsible for the chemoresistance in sequencing (NGS) approaches in patients with Best retinoblastoma through the analysis of the cellular disease, USH, BBS and Stargardt disease to reveal the models and tumours that are resistant to current underlying causative genes for clinical diagnosis which treatment. In order to design newer therapies, deletions will aid in genetic counselling for family members. and duplications are checked and frequent alterations are found in some genes. In addition to the genetic Research scholars at the Molecular genetics lab changes, epigenetic changes that regulate the gene expression have been identified. With these multiple approaches, genes related to cell division and apoptosis are found to be responsible. Ocular Pharmacology Steroid-induced ocular hypertension/glaucoma is a serious side-effect associated with the chronic use of steroids. However, the molecular mechanism is not well understood. To understand the pathogenesis of steroid-induced ocular hypertension/glaucoma, some unique genes and microRNAs (small non-coding RNAs) were identified 59

Ocular pharmacology lab mutations in Leber congenital amaurosis, X‐linked retinoschisis, and Stargardt’s disease. Interestingly, the in the affected tissue cells (steroid-responsive and non- method identified a novel variant in BEST1 gene responsive human trabecular meshwork cells). Studies X‐linked retinoschisis. Also, the lab developed a are underway to validate these microRNAs, their target best-performing transcriptome data analysis pipeline genes and further their important signalling pathways. that would best perform on eye disease and ocular After validation, the potential miRNA(s) will be cancer data sets. identified and evaluated for its efficacy in GC-OHT using HOCAS model. In tandem, the lab discovered new molecular diagnostic markers for intra-ocular tuberculosis from Bioinformatics aqueous humour of the patients. A set of human small- noncoding RNAs called miRNAs was discovered, and Bioinformatics lab primarily focuses on methods of further functional studies are required to understand NGSomics data analysis and the role of small noncoding their role in IOTB, and as diagnostic markers. RNAs as biomarkers for vision biology and eye diseases. The NGSomics includes whole genome, exome, Proteomics transcriptome next-generation sequencing data analysis in identifying molecular targets for ocular cancer and Biological processes at the molecular level could be eye diseases. The lab developed an in-house automated studied using different approaches. Studies at the pipeline for whole exome/genome data analysis. department primarily focus on proteins, which are the Further, specific filtering and prioritization method ultimate drivers of any biological process. The team was developed to identify disease-causing mutations uses proteomic analysis to study fungal keratitis, a from patients with genetic eye disorders. The machine common eye disease particularly in tropical countries learning models were successful in identifying like India. Management of fungal keratitis relies on the use of antifungal agents; however, understanding Bioinformatics lab the role of host response to infection is essential for effective intervention. Confocal microscopy and proteomics studies demonstrated that corneal epithelial cells are capable of phagocytosis of fungal spores. Complementing the proteomics analysis, transcriptome profiling using high throughput NanoString analysis was also done. These data together revealed that epithelial layer, which is the outermost layer of the cornea, is an immune barrier in addition to being a physical barrier. The innate immune response to the fungal infection is usually through the recruitment of neutrophils. A comparative study on two different Aspergillus pathogens, A. flavus and A. fumigatus revealed that the neutrophil response is dependent on the pathogen and also, on the growth morphotype. Further, understanding of the host response to fungal infection was possible by studying the protein changes in the tear fluid from fungal keratitis patients. A large number of tear proteins were found to be altered during fungal infection and were considered as candidate biomarkers. These markers are currently being validated in a larger fungal keratitis patient cohort to identify those proteins that can help in predicting whether the patients will respond to treatment or not. Additional studies are in progress to elucidate the use of specific host proteins, induced by infection, for identification of the infecting pathogen. 60

Studies on diabetic retinopathy focus on identifying project involving AMRF, Aurolab and the University biomarkers that can predict the onset and progression of Liverpool. The chemical cross-linker has shown of diabetic retinopathy in type II diabetes patients. promising results both in ex-vivo pig eyes and human Discovery phase studies in search of candidate protein eyes in terms of increasing the stiffness of the cornea biomarkers have been carried out using serum, serum with negligible cytotoxicity to the cells of corneal layers. microparticles (small vesicles present in serum that are This chemical cross-linker is currently being evaluated secreted by various cell types) and vitreous humour. as an alternative to conventional UV-A cross-linking In parallel, validation of selected 12 serum markers treatment. From the previous study, a new project in a large cohort of patients from Indian and UK has been sanctioned by the Indian Council of Medical population is currently in progress as part of the Indo- Research to investigate the molecular mechanism of UK collaborative study. These studies will ultimately action of the cross-linker in human corneas. result in the development of a simple, sensitive and reproducible assay to monitor diabetic retinopathy. Stem Cell Biology Another area of focus in diabetic retinopathy study is the identification of differentially expressed serum The thrust of research at the department is to microRNAs involved in the progression of the disease. understand the basic biology of adult tissue resident A few differentially expressed microRNAs like miR stem cells in the human eye, their role in the normal 320a, miR 27b, miR 181a and miR 451a and their targets maintenance of the tissue and changes in ocular disease/ have been identified and validated in serum samples, disorder. which hold the promise of being characterised as biomarkers for the progression of the disease. Extensive studies on the limbal epithelial stem cells led to the establishment of a specific method for their A comprehensive histopathological and proteomics identification, quantification, enrichment and molecular approach was employed to understand the role of characterisation. Recently, two miRNAs (long non- iris in the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation (PXF) coding RNAs) specific to limbal epithelial stem cells glaucoma. Proteome analysis of the iris tissue from were functionally proven to suppress the proliferation/ unaffected, unilateral PXF and bilateral PXF donors differentiation associated gene targets, thereby revealed changes in iris proteins specific to the different increasing the stem cell content in limbal epithelial cell stages of pseudoexfoliation syndrome. These results cultures. are currently validated in additional iris samples from donors’ eyes as well as from PXF patients undergoing Studies on developing a cell-based therapy for iridectomy. These studies will help decipher the glaucoma have also been initiated. Immunostaining involvement of iris in PXF syndrome as well as identify for stem cell markers confirmed the presence of stem prognostic markers for monitoring the PXF progression. cells in the Schwalbe’s line region of the trabecular A novel chemical cross-linker for the treatment of meshwork (TM). An age-related reduction in trabecular keratoconus has been developed through a collaborative meshwork stem cell content was demonstrated to be significantly associated with the total TM cell loss. Stem cell biology research Further quantification of stem cells in the TM tissues from known glaucomatous donors revealed a higher reduction compared to age-matched controls which might be associated with the drastic reduction the total TM cellularity, thus altering the tissue maintenance leading to the increase in intraocular pressure. Having demonstrated that the adult stem cells in glaucoma are reduced, the current focus is to evaluate whether a stem cell based therapy will enable TM regeneration to restore the normal IOP. Basic biology on human lens epithelium from excised globes from Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank identified the central zone to contain stem cells. Similar studies are being carried out to locate the stem cells in human retinal pigment epithelium. 61

Ocular Microbiology Workshop on Advances in Clinical Genomics The major research focus of the department is on ocular processes in humans were kept on display. Around 140 pathogen epidemiology, as well as to understand the students visited the exhibition. pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance mechanisms at the molecular level. Ocular tuberculosis is one of the Advances in Clinical Genomics: Hands-on- poorly understood eye diseases and is highly challenging workshop on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for diagnosis. Currently, profiling of the microRNA in ocular fluids of the ocular tuberculosis patients is in January 23-25 progress for identifying unique microRNAs, which can As part of DBT Centre of Excellence programme, be explored as diagnostic markers. Another study is Translational genomics of paediatric eye diseases, AMRF in progress for the understanding of virulence factors organised this three-day workshop. Over 10 participants of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa including faculty and research scholars from colleges causing contact lens associated keratitis. Advanced and other institutions took part. high throughput Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) methods are being explored for its application in Awards/Fellowships diagnosis, as well as understanding the pathogens at the genome level. The department completed a multi- Indian National Science Academy (INSA) - centre Asia Cornea Society of Infectious Keratitis Study Israel Academy of Sciences Bilateral Exchange involving national and international eye institutes Programme from the Asian continent. By employing Multi Locus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) and genotyping, November 4-17 previously unreported species belonging to the genus Dr. P.Sundaresan, Senior Scientist, AMRF was awarded Acanthamoeba and Nocardia was identified in causing visiting fellowship by INSA and the Israel Academy ocular infections. Major Events Science in Everyday Life September 28 As part of October Summit 2019, Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) organised the one- day exhibition in collaboration with colleges and universities in and around Madurai. Elaborate models on scientific principles explaining various physiological At the exhibition on Science in everyday life 62

Dr. P. Sundaresan during his visit to Hadassah-Hebrew Ms. K. Lavanya - Recipient, Commonwealth University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel Split-site Scholarship of Sciences under the International Collaboration/ Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship awarded by Exchange programme 2019. As part of this, he visited Commonwealth Scholarship Commissions UK and the Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew pursued, a part of her doctoral research with Prof. Julie University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. The T Daniels at Institute of Ophthalmology, University main purpose of the visit was to work on molecular College London (UCL-IOO), United Kingdom from genetics of inherited retinal dystrophies and explore January to December 2019. bioinformatics analysis of next generation sequencing. She carried out studies to understand the molecular Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship regulatory potential of corneal epithelial stem cells specific miRNAs in the maintenance of stemness in the Ms. K. Lavanya, Senior Research Fellow, Department limbal epithelial cells using 3D RAFT culture system. of Immunology and Stem cell Biology received Ph.D awarded by Madurai Kamaraj University for the studies carried out at AMRF Mr. Mohd Hussain Shah G. Prakadeeswari M.K. Jhansi Rani Molecular Genetics Molecular Genetics Immunology and Stem Cell Thesis: Genetics and functional Thesis: Molecular analysis of Biology approaches to understand the various risk factors involved in Thesis: Molecular signature of human pathogenicity of primary open angle pseudoexfoliation syndrome limbal epithelial stem cells glaucoma Guide: Dr. P. Sundaresan Guide: Dr. Gowri Priya Guide : Dr. P. Sundaresan Chidambaranathan 63

Ongoing Projects - An in-silico approach for identification of aberrant metabolic pathways in retinal angiogenesis towards early diagnosis and Basic Research development of personalised medicine - Pathogenic Aspergillus: Interaction with innate immune cells - Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of Pythium insidiosum (Indo-French Collaborative project) causing human corneal ulcer - Study on Human mycotic keratitis - Identification and evaluation of genetic relationship based on - A prospective, multicentre discovery and validation of diagnostic, multilocus sequence analysis in Nocardia sp causing human ocular infection circulating and urinary biomarkers and development of sensor(s) to detect sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy - Biomarker and - Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of Acanthamoeba sp using Biosensor study in UK and India the 18S ribosomal DNA region (JDP 1/2) from Acanthamoeba - Proteome profiling of serum microparticles in diabetes and keratitis patients diabetic retinopathy patients: Towards identification and validation of predictive biomarkers Clinical Research - Functional analysis of circulating microRNAs and their regulatory role in diabetic retinopathy Glaucoma - Molecular genetics of macular corneal dystrophy in Indian population - Screening the Kadaladi family with early onset glaucoma for - Genetics of retinal dystrophies Myocilin gene mutations and development of ER stress reversing - Genetic and transcript analysis of RB1 gene in south Indian novel chemical entities as topical ophthalmic formulations retinoblastoma patients - Understanding the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in - Safety and efficacy of subconjunctival injection bevacizumab retinoblastoma versus injection mitomycin-C in Trabeculectomy - A one-year - Molecular characterisation of tumour progression in prospective randomised controlled study retinoblastoma - Identification and validation of deregulated cancer pathways in - Assessment of tear film alterations in patients using topical anti- retinoblastoma glaucoma medications - Translational genomics of ocular cancers - COE LEAD: Translational genomics of paediatric eye diseases - Enhancing early glaucoma detection through family screening to - COE PR-I: Molecular analysis of mitochondrial diseases with reduce glaucoma related blindness. ophthalmic manifestations - COE PR-II: Epigenetic mechanisms underlying tumour - A prospective cohort study of corneal endothelial cell loss after progression in retinoblastoma Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Implant (AADI) implantation - COE PR-III: Functional validation of novel candidate genes using alternate model - The effect of learning curve on the surgical outcomes of combined - COE R&D: Computational methods for whole exome/genome cataract extraction and Trabeculectomy surgery sequencing of paediatric eye diseases - Limbal miRNAs and their potential targets associated with the - Improving adherence to follow-up in childhood glaucoma maintenance of stemness - Characterisation and functional evaluation of trabecular - Indian childhood glaucoma incidence study meshwork stem cells in glaucoma pathogenesis - Characterisation of adult human lens epithelial stem cells in - Difference of uveal parameters between the acute primary angle the maintenance of tissue homeostasis throughout life and their closure eyes and the fellow eyes in south Indian population functional status in cataractous lens - Prediction of treatment outcome in fungal keratitis patients - Deep learning algorithms applied to optical coherence - Role of miRNA in the regulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) tomography images of the optic nerve head for improved signalling and development of new therapeutics for steroid- glaucoma diagnosis induced glaucoma - Diagnostic markers for ocular tuberculosis - Shared medical appointments randomised trial - Computational methods for whole exome/genome sequencing of paediatric eye diseases - The Asia primary tube versus trab (TVT) study - Comparative genomics of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ocular isolates - Efficacy of intracameral moxifloxacin in blebitis/endophthalmitis from keratitis patients with different clinical outcomes prophylaxis for trabeculectomy at Aravind Eye Hospitals 64 - Intraocular pressure dynamics after Water drinking test and Diurnal variation test in glaucoma suspects. - Non interventional cohort study: Mean rate of progression in visual fields of patients with primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension attending a tertiary eye care centre in south India. - BLEB needling study: Bleb needling for failure of filtration surgeries with mitomycin C in primary glaucoma in South Indian Population. - AADI-250: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Implant (AADI) on intraocular pressure reduction in paediatric patients with refractory glaucoma. - DALK study: Incidence of elevated intraocular pressure following deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty: a prospective observational cohort study

- Mannitol study: Comparison of intraocular pressure reduction Cataract and IOL with intravenous mannitol in vitrectomised and non- vitrectomized eyes - A prospective, multi-centric, randomised controlled, study on long term outcomes of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens Paediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus implantation in pseudo exfoliation syndrome patients. - Long term outcomes of ectopia lentis managed with Cionni CTR - A prospective, non-randomised, single arm, open label study to placement in paediatric patients evaluate the efficacy of multifocal intraocular lenses with patients having cataract in both eyes. - Heritability and clinical profile of myopia in children in a tertiary care hospital: A cross sectional study - Visual performance comparison between phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgery in eyes with senile - Ocular biometry and retinal nerve fibre layer and macular cataract - A prospective randomised clinical trial thickness in a paediatric myopic patients treated with 0.01% Atropine. - Complications and visual outcomes in miniCAP and phacoemulsification cataract surgeries performed by trainee - Etiology of paediatric cataract ophthalmologists - A multi-centre randomised controlled trial - Yoke prism trial - Impact of digital resources in quality of life in visually impaired - - Prostaglandin level estimation in phacoemulsification and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with and without before and after NVDA usage NSAID and correlation with postoperative inflammation and - Prevalence of colour blindness cystoid macular edema - LCA-Clinical profile and genetics part - Intermittent Bworn’s - A case of circadian heterotropia - To compare the stability of Iris fixated IOL between 3 piece - Effect of subtenon anaesthesia in addition to general anaesthesia PMMA and single piece IOL with modified haptic’s in paediatric strabismus surgery - Surgical outcome comparison of miniCAP Vs - BYNOCS - Anti suppression utility phacoemulsification - A randomised controlled trial - Patan’s syndrome - Case report- Pseudo brown and rare presentation of ocular - Visual outcomes and clinical profile in patients with traumatic cataract from blunt injury: A prospective study cysticercosis - Inferior rectus recession in B/L SO Palsy on primary procedure - Comparison of refractive outcome after limbal relaxing incision - Hypomylenation of basal ganglia, cerebellum during phacoemulsification and Arcuate keratotomy during - Case series - Muscle transplantation in TRO femtosecond laser cataract surgery to correct astigmatism. - Acquired inverse DRS - Comparison of motion stereopsis and static stereopsis in patients Neuro-Ophthalmology with intermittent exotropia - A phase 2/3, randomised, double-masked, sham-controlled trial - Case series - Late onset esotropia of QPI- 1007 delivered by single or multi-dose intravitreal injection(s) to subjects with acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic Cornea optic neuropathy (NAION) - Correlation between handedness and ocular dominance in Retina and Vitreous strabismic amblyopia - SiB Scope retinopathy of prematurity-project - Knowledge and awareness regarding eye donation- A survey - RAINBOW extension study: an extension study to evaluate the - To evaluate the outcome of topical UV lube in dry eye patients long term efficacy and safety of ranibizumab compared with due to secondary Sjogren syndrome laser therapy for the treatment of infants born prematurely with - Comparison of i-TRACE aberrometry outcomes in customised retinopathy of prematurity. - Correlation of pre-operative OCT of macular hole and post- PRK, customised LASIK and Femto LASIK for moderate to high operative outcome myopia - Comparison of accuracy in the interpretation of OCT findings by - To evaluate the outcome of topical chloroquine phosphate in dry trained technicians Vs retina specialist eye patients due to primary and secondary Sjogren syndrome - Can ultra-wide field imaging by OPTOS or CLAR-US replace - CLAIR I (Cross-linking Assisted Infection Reduction) clinical examination in detecting horseshoe tears requiring - CLAIR II barrage laser? A comparative analysis at a tertiary eye care - Parasitic Ulcer Pilot Study (PUPILS) centre. - A Prospective observational study of the Socioeconomic, - A comparative account of ultra-wide field imaging by Optos and demographic profile health-seeking behaviour, cost implications, Clarus in non-mydriatic eyes using a pupillometer clinical features and visual outcomes following penetrating ocular - Role of 3-D vitrectomy surgery as a teaching tool in training trauma. postgraduates and trainees in retina. - Role of ultra-wide field retinal imaging as a preoperative tool in identifying the breaks in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment - Evaluation of macular perfusion, foveal avascular zone and 65

photoreceptor integrity in diabetic macular edema patients after - A two-arm, randomised, double-masked, multicenter, Phase III Anti-VEGF treatment study assessing the efficacy and safety of brolucizumab versus aflibercept in adult patients with visual impairment due to - To investigate the safety and efficacy of polyglactin - 910 sutures diabetic macular edema in ophthalmic surgical procedures - Translating research into clinical and community practice: a - Relationship between the morphology of diabetic macular edema multi-state, multi-centre statistical modelling of risk-based and nephropathy in south Indian population stratified and personalised screening for complications of diabetes in India. - Comparison of macular pigment optical density status after macular hole surgery between digitally assisted vitreoretinal Uvea system and conventional analog microscope - Efficacy and safety of posterior subtenon’s triamcinolone - Changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness in proliferative diabetic acetonide, intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide, intravitreal retinopathy eyes undergoing panretinal photocoagulation using bevacizumab, intravitreal Ozurdex for treatment of uveitic green laser versus yellow laser - An enhanced depth imaging cystoid macula edema optical coherence tomography (EDI OCT) measured comparative study - Macular edema nepafenac vs difluprednate (MEND) Uveitis Trial - Long-term effects of semaglutide on diabetic retinopathy in subjects with Type 2 diabetes (FOCUS) Health Services Research - CAD - VC Study: Reader study of Arda assisting Aravind Tele- - Effectiveness of teleophthalmology in providing comprehensive ophthalmologists and Vision Centers primary eye care in rural southern India - SMART - ORNATE India Project (Statistical modelling and risk - Impact of electronic medical record implementation on patients assessment of Type 2 diabetes complications in India and care providers in tertiary eye hospitals - A multi-centre, randomised, double-masked, active-controlled, - Evaluation of the effectiveness of low-cost, portable, accurate comparative clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of autorefractor to provide well-tolerated eyeglass prescriptions MYL-1701P and Eylea® in subjects with diabetic macular edema - Validation of non-ophthalmologist graders in identifying diabetic - A randomised, phase 3, double-masked, parallel-group, retinopathy through teleretinal imaging. multicenter study to compare efficacy and safety of QL1205 versus Lucentis® in subjects with neovascular age-related - Comprehensive eye care work Assessment study in Theni district macular degeneration of Tamilnadu - RAINBOW extension study: an extension study to evaluate the - Study on evaluating the effectiveness of mentoring process, from long term efficacy and safety of ranibizumab compared with mentees perspective, in SCALE capacity building initiative laser therapy for the treatment of infants born prematurely with retinopathy of prematurity - Enablers and barriers for accepting cataract surgery in secondary eye hospital settings - Validation of neuropupillary index (NPI) measured by automated Neuroptics PLR-3000 pupillometer in diagnosing - Perfecting refraction in India with superior service models: A ocular pathologies in south Indian population cluster-randomised controlled trial of three models of school- based spectacle service delivery in India - GOAP, Scope – RoP Tele screening - A randomised controlled trial to assess the follow-up adherence - EYLEA Study: Structured Post-marketing surveillance to collect of patients identified with posterior segment diseases in outreach the safety data of intravitreal aflibercept injection (IVT-AFL) camp. Fundus imaging randomised subjective trial. in patients of wet age-related macular degeneration during real- world clinical practice. Clinical Trials - Aurolab - Conventional versus inverted flap technique for large macular - A prospective, non-randomised, single arm, open label study holes: A prospective randomised control trial to evaluate the performance of multifocal intraocular lenses (MFIOL) with patients having cataract in both eyes - Subjective high-risk patient counselling randomisation project - To study the safety and performance of high refractive index cast - A study on the differential expression of Piwi-interacting RNAs molded hydrophobic intraocular lenses with age-related cataract (piRNA) and altered Piwi-like protein interactions in diabetic patients. retinopathy - A prospective, non-randomised, single-arm clinical trial to - Comparison of staging of diabetic retinopathy by an offline investigate the safety and efficacy of nylon sutures in small artificial intelligence with onsite doctor examination and fundus incision cataract surgery. grading by a retina specialist - A phase III randomised, double-masked, parallel group, multicentre study to compare the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity between SB11 (proposed ranibizumab biosimilar) and Lucentis in subjects with neovascular age-related macular degeneration 66

Ophthalmic Supplies and Equipment Staying true to its mission, Aurolab continues to manufacture ophthalmic consumables, ensuring affordability and quality. Necessary modifications were made in the existing products to accommodate the users’ needs. Aurolab’s coated polymeric cartridges for delivery of intraocular lens was granted a patent by the Govt. of India in August 2019. International Marketing division expanded its network to include a few more of the developed nations. For the first time, Aurolab organised a consultation as part of the October Summit. Conducted in a think tank mode, the consultation titled, ‘Companies as market drivers’ had Aurolab’s peer groups collectively exploring their role in driving the market to address eye care issues globally. Representatives from Essilor India Private Ltd, Appasamy Associates, Remidio, Forus Health, Vision Spring, LV Prasad Eye Institute, ISCON Surgicals, Google, and International Agency for Prevention of Blindness participated. Focus on the Need of the Hour and chin rest shield made of acrylic material. It was also involved in drafting precautionary measures for With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Aurolab COVID-19 and guidelines for the use of PPEs. shifted its focus in response to the need of the hour. The focus was turned towards preparing Personal Protective Product Development Equipment (PPE) for health care workers. Production of hand sanitisers was stepped up to meet the increasing New Products demand. Aurolab designed and produced a protective Intraocular lens (IOL) division launched the following shield to be placed on the slit lamp, and a face shield unique products: for doctors to wear during other procedures, to prevent - Aurovue EV Toric: These preloaded hydrophobic the spread of infection while examining patients. These face shields will go a long way benefitting a acrylic aspheric toric IOLs are intended for wider community beyond eye care correction of astigmatism and spherical aberration. workers. Participants of the Companies as market drivers consultation Aurolab also focused on improvising the PPEs with advanced safety features for ensuring better protection. Face shields are manufactured from Amorphous- polyethylene terephthalate (APET) to provide better transparency. The width of the headband is increased from 6mm to 12mm to ensure durability to the shield. To avoid scratches on the shield, a peelable anti-scratch layer is coated inside, which can be removed at the time of use. For greater safety against the transmission of the droplets, Aurolab has also designed a reusable and flexible slit lamp breath shield 67

New Products Aurovue Ev Toric Aurovue Multipiece Auro-CMC Hylube - Aurovue Multipiece: Preloaded hydrophobic acrylic without wound leakage. This also helps avoid surgically multipiece IOLs intended for scleral fixation, sulcus induced astigmatism. placement and other complicated cataract cases. Equipment Division developed a high-resolution Pharmaceutical division launched two niche products camera named Third-i, compatible with Hawk-i slit named Auro-CMC (Carboxy Methyl Cellulose Sodium lamps to capture images and record videos while 0.5%w/v eye drops) and Hylube (Sodium hyaluronate screening the patient. Hawk-i slit lamp was upgraded as 0.1%w/v eye drops), both used in the treatment of dry a two-step model to provide greater space efficiency. eye. Hummingbird Phacoemulsification machine is Product Enhancements enriched with audio output and more features. Glaucoma drug preservative was changed from Aurolase 532 Laser machine is upgraded with LCD Benzalkonium Chloride (BAK) to Stabilized Oxychloro touch panel for easy operation and integrated with Complex (SOC). SOC preservatives are better tolerated Laser Indirect Ophthalmoscopy (LIO) delivery system. than BAK. They do not cause any irritation and hence, are ideal for ophthalmic products used chronically or In collaboration with Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai with a compromised ocular surface. and with support from Global Business Services – Standard Chartered Bank, Aurolab is developing an Modifications were brought in the packaging of affordable and effective storage medium for preserving products to ensure safety and longer shelf life. corneas. The project was initiated to improve the effectiveness of antibiotic supplementation of Cornisol Blades Division manufactured CE certified nanocut (Corneal storage medium) by modernising the blades from high-grade stainless steel, using superior antibiotic selection and choosing Moxifloxacin, a manufacturing technology. With anti-glare surface and fourth-generation fluoroquinolone, over Gentamycin autoclavable polycarbonate handles and cradle, nanocut and Streptomycin. blades ensure smooth incisions without resistance, thus enhancing superior wound reconstruction. The division Initiatives to Impact Primary Eye Care has also made dual bevel profile in Aurosleek brand to Delivery ensure consistent sharpness. It provides good control and stability, penetrates easily and creates accurate Aurolab’s portable autorefractometer (e-see) has been width for optimum fit to different types of phaco tips receiving an immense response from the ophthalmic community, mainly for its ease of use. Governments of Product Enhancements High grade stainless steel, Hawk-i slit lamp attached Two-step model Hawk-i Laser machine with LCD touch autoclavable blades with with Third-i camera slit lamp panel and integrated LIO delivery system antiglare surface 68

e-see autorefracometer being used in Tele V-Care Centre It also provides Vision Centre Management Software (VCMS) as part of the package. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu use it to initiate mass free eye screening programmes in remote areas. A total Regulatory Activities of 130 e-see devices were supplied to the Government of Andhra Pradesh at an affordable rate. Under the Uganda being a critical market for penetration and Dr. YSR Kanti Velugu Programme, e-see will be used promotion of medical devices, Aurolab has taken steps extensively in 13 districts of the state towards ensuring to enter the market through the successful NDA Audit comprehensive and sustainable eye care to all. happened in June 2019. Aurolab has supplied 32 devices to the Government Aurolab underwent audits by Supreme Board of of Tamil Nadu for setting up Tele-Vision Care units in Drug and Chemical Appliances, Yemen; Pharmacy its Primary Health Centres. This initiative is expected and Poisons Board (PPB), Kenya; Food and Drug to significantly revolutionise the way eye care is being Administration (FDA), Thailand to ensure compliance delivered especially in the rural parts of Tamil Nadu. with the highest standards of safety, efficacy and quality for all drugs, chemical substances and medical devices. Aurolab has started offering one-stop solution for hospitals planning to set up primary eye care centres. Marketing Beyond delivery of equipment and service support, Aurolab in collaboration with LAICO provides As part of October Summit, Aurolab organised a orientation on setting up and successfully running consultation titled Companies as Market Drivers on vision centres as well as trains staff in teleconsultation. October 2, 2019. To enhance surgical skills of doctors in phaco surgery, Aurolab established three training centres, one each at Priyamvadha Birla Aravind Eye Hospital, West Bengal, Sri Ganapathy Nethralaya, Maharashtra and Sitapur Eye Hospital, Uttar Pradesh. This activity is being funded by Global Business Services – Standard Chartered Bank and three more centres will be established in the coming years. Aurolab arranged a roundtable meeting for the users of multifocal intraocular lenses to update them on technological advancements in the field as well to reinforce the benefits of these lenses. Dr. Arulmozhi Varman of Uma Eye Clinic, Chennai and Dr. MS. Raveendra of Karthick Netralaya, Bangalore shared valuable inputs. Shri. Suresh Kumar Khanna, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Finance, Parliamentary Affairs and Medical Education, Govt. of UP attending a session during his visit to Aurolab 69

Mr. N.Vishnu Prasad with His Excellency, the President of India, Shri. Ram Nath Kovind and other participants at the 4th ASEAN-India Business Summit Aurolab conducted wetlab sessions for post-graduates an objective to get into the premium segments of these to train them in the photocoagulation procedure using markets. Aurolase 532 green laser machine and glaucoma shunt surgical technique using Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Aurolab is one the very first Indian companies to Implant. A training session using Hummingbird complete registration of a wide range of eye drops in phaco machine was arranged at the surgical skills Nepal resulting in a supply of over 200,000 units of transfer courses conducted by Aravind Eye Hospital, pharmaceutical products. Some of the other markets in Pondicherry and Kerala State Ophthalmic Conference which registrations were completed are Sudan and Iran. held in November 2019. It is one of the very few Indian companies having passed the ANVISA audit from Brazil. The International Marketing Group (IMG) at Aurolab expanded the current distribution network to Aurolab took initiatives to expand its participation include developed nations such as Australia and France in trade shows globally. Mr. Vishnu Prasad, Marketing in addition to creating accessibility to customers in Manager-Exports represented Aurolab at the Ethiopia, Namibia, Jordan and Turkey through newly Philippines-India Business Conclave and the 4th appointed dealership networks. ASEAN-India Business Summit held from October 17-21, 2019 at Manila, Philippines. He spoke on ways Aurolab launched its premium hydrophobic to address non-availability of affordable and accessible multifocal intraocular lens in the markets of Argentina, ophthalmic consumables in developing economies in the Colombia, Guatemala, Kenya and South Korea with presence of His Excellency the President of India, Shri. Ram Nath Kovind. Aurolab stall at the 44th Perdami Exhibition, Makassar, Functional display of the Third-i camera at the 9th Conjoint South Sulawesi, Indonesia Ophthalmology Scientific Conference conducted by Academy of Medicine, Malaysia 70

Recognitions and Achievements RECOGNITIONS Ravilla, Director-Operations, AECS with the award in recognition of his exemplary contributions towards Recognition to Aravind’s contribution building Aravind Eye Care System. The award was presented at the Comprehensive Cataract Conference London, UK, October 29 held in Kolkata. Aravind Eye Hospitals have been involved in training doctors, nurses and staff from the Commonwealth as Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Teaching Complex part of a five-year programme funded by the Queen (CEITC) Gold Medal Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust (QEDJT). In what can be termed as a clear recognition for Aravind for Chittagong, Bangladesh, February 09 having taken up almost 40% of the training work, Dr. Mr. Thulasiraj Ravilla was honoured with a gold medal N. Venkatesh Prajna, Director-Academics was invited for his significant contribution to the development of to a grand reception by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in CEITC at its 47th anniversary celebration. the Buckingham Palace, London. A group of 40 people from 32 countries, who have played different important Albert Lee Ueltschi Award roles in the QEDJT programmes, top ophthalmologists, ambassadors and secretaries from the Commonwealth, Kolkata, November 29-December 1 were in attendance. At the Comprehensive Cataract Conference held in Kolkata, HelpMeSee honoured Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Pune Netra Seva National Award Chairman, AECS with the award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to ophthalmology. Pune, December 29 Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, Aravind Dr.S. Mohandas Memorial Oration Award Eye Care System (AECS) received the award conferred on Aravind Eye Care System by Pune Netra Seva Kollam, October 29 Pratishthan. Dr. R.D. Ravindran delivered the oration titled, Ensuring safety and improving outcomes in cataract surgery at Legend in Ophthalmology Award Ashtamudi Ophthalmica, the annual CME of Kollam Ophthalmic Association. Madurai, July 28 On the eve of Doctors’ Day celebration, Elected as Vice President-Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Dr. P. Namperumalsamy was honoured with the Association (TNOA) award by the Indian Medical Association, Madurai in appreciation of his meritorious medical services. Salem, August 9-11 Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli Special Honour at iBeach Film Festival was elected as Vice President - TNOA at its annual conference held in Salem. Goa, August 30-September 1 Dr. P. Namperumalsamy was honoured for his American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) commendable contribution to Indian ophthalmology “Unsung Hero” at iBeach Film Festival, the first of its kind ophthalmic meeting conducted by Prasad Netralaya, Udupi. January 23 Dr. S.R.Rathinam, Chief, Uvea Services, Aravind- Dr. Gullapalli N Rao Endowment Lecture Madurai was recognised as an “Unsung Hero” by the AAO in appreciation of her work on trematode eye Gurugram, Haryana, February 13-16 disease in children. Dr.M.Srinivasan, Director Emeritus, AECS delivered the lecture at All India Ophthalmic Conference. Prof. Michael Trese Oration Award Institution Builder Award Chandigarh, June 21-23 Dr. V. Narendran, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind- Kolkata, November 29 – December 1 Coimbatore delivered the oration on My journey with RoP The International Society of Manual Small Incision at the 4th annual conference of Indian Retinopathy of Cataract Surgeons (ISMSICS) honoured Mr. Thulasiraj Prematurity Society. 71

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy receiving the Pune Netra Seva National Dr. P. Namperumalsamy being honoured at iBeach Award for AECS Film Festival Mr.Thulasiraj Ravilla receiving the Institution Builder Award Dr. M. Srinivasan receiving the Dr. Gullapalli N Rao Endowment Lecture Award Dr. R.D. Ravindran receiving the Albert Lee Ueltschi award Dr. N.Venkatesh Prajna at the grand reception by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 72

Dr. M.K. Mehra Oration Award to Dr. Usha Kim Mr.Thulasiraj Ravilla being honoured for his contribution to the development of CEITC Prof. Anila Khuteta Memorial Oration Award to Dr. Haripriya Aravind Prof. Michael Trese Oration Award to Dr.V. Narendran Dr. Haripriya Aravind receiving the P. Siva Reddy I nternational Award Dr. N.Venkatesh Prajna receiving Dr. J. Agarwal E xcellence in Teaching Award IAPB Eye Health Hero Award for Mr. N.Vengadesan 73

Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India International Women’s Day Awards (IIRSI) Gold Medal Rotary Club, Madurai presented Elegance of New Delhi, September 7-8 Womanhood Award of Excellence to Dr. Usha Kim. Dr. Kalpana Narendran, Senior Medical Officer, Lady Doak College, Madurai and Transgender Resource Aravind-Coimbatore was awarded the gold medal for Centre honoured Dr. Usha Kim with Achievers’ Award her outstanding achievements and selfless dedication in recognition of her efforts to build an equal society. towards advancement in the field of ophthalmology. She was also honoured by South India Welfare Trust - Association of Deaf, Madurai and Devadoss Hospital, Dr. S.S Badrinath SOA SN Alumni Medal Madurai on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Salem, August 9-11 Role Model of the Year Award Dr. Kalpana Narendran was bestowed with the medal at the Annual Conference of Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Bengaluru, September 8-10 Association. Women Ophthalmologists Society honoured Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief-Cataract and IOL Services, Dr.TNC Vedantham Memorial Oration Aravind - Chennai with the award at its annual conference. Chennai, September 8 Dr. R. Kim, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind - Madurai P. Siva Reddy International Award delivered the oration on Diabetic Retinopathy and Artificial Intelligence at RADNET 2019 organised by Radhatri Gurugram, Haryana, February 13-16 Netralaya. Dr. Haripriya Aravind won the award at the All India Ophthalmic Conference for her significant contribution Best Doctor Award to the field of ophthalmology. Chennai, October 25 Prof. Anila Khuteta Memorial Oration Star Vijay network and Rishvanth Tele Media honoured Dr. R. Kim with the award. Jaipur, September 20-22 Dr. Haripriya Aravind delivered the oration on Excellence in Teaching Award Intracameral antibiotics for endophthalmitis prophylaxis at the Rajasthan Ophthalmological Conference. Salem, August 9-11 Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Director Academics -AECS Eye Health Hero was bestowed with the Dr. J. Agarwal Excellence in Teaching Award at the Annual Conference of Tamil Mr. N. Vengadesan, Manager-Patient Care, Aravind Nadu Ophthalmic Association. - Pondicherry was recognised with the award by the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Vocational Excellence Award Best Nurse Award Madurai, July 30 Rotary Club of Madurai Blossom presented the award Tirunelveli, May 12 to Dr. Usha Kim, Chief-Orbit, Oculoplasty, Ocular Ms. K. Sangeetha, Aravind Community Clinic, Oncology and Ocular Prosthetics Services, Aravind- Sankarankoil was felicitated by Red Cross Society with Madurai in appreciation of her exemplary contribution the award on the occasion of International Nurses Day. in the field of medicine and her commitment and dedication to high moral and ethical values. Lions Club Awards Dr. M.K. Mehra Oration Tirunelveli, June 6 Senior nurses of Aravind-Tirunelveli - Lucknow, November 16 Ms. A Shanmuga Sundari; Ms. A Prema; Ms. G.V. Dr. Usha Kim delivered the oration on the topic, My Packialakshmi, and Ms. R.S. Gomathi, were awarded Journey in the field – Evolution of the Department of Orbit, Certificate of Achievement for their selfless and efficient Oculoplasty & Ocular Oncology. work by the Lions Club of Tirunelveli Cosmos. Exceptional Woman of Excellence Award Distinguished Alumni Award Madurai, January 26 Coimbatore, January 26 Dr. Usha Kim was honoured with the award by the Ms. S. Sangeetha, Manager-Administration, Aravind- Women Economic Forum (WEF). Coimbatore, was presented with the award by Dr.NGP Arts and Science College, Coimbatore. 74

ACHIEVEMENTS Best Free Paper award, Ms. Lakshmi with her award winning Effectiveness of infection control nurse poster at VISION 2020 conference Staff are encouraged to attend in implementing infection control conferences and CMEs to present practices and reducing hospital- Eye Hospitals by the incidents reported their work. Over 50 staff won acquired infection. in the year 2018. awards for their presentations in - Ms. Rajakumari, Aravind- - Ms. Lakshmi, Refraction various academic programmes Coimbatore, Runner up in Free Department, Aravind-Madurai, Paper Presentation, Improving Best Poster award, Improving Proficiency Awards cataract surgery acceptance rate by visual outcomes with miniscleral lens in utilising multiple tools during cataract keratoconus. By The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR counselling. - Ms. Rajathi, Gandhigram Vision Medical University, Chennai - Ms. Ramyadevi, Aravind - Centre, Ms. Moorthi Gowsalya, - Dr. Sivagami.N was awarded Coimbatore, Best Free Paper Technician, Aravind-Madurai and award, Outcomes of telescreening for Ms. Amirtha Varshini, the Dr.Rema Mohan Gold medal RoP in rural south India - The Aravind Optometrist, Aravind-Madurai, for securing the highest mark in Coimbatore experience. First, Second and Third Prize the Diploma in Ophthalmology - Ms. S.N. Kamatchi, Aravind- respectively in Optometry Quiz. exams (DO) in 2018. Madurai, Runner Up in Free - Dr. M.S. Lakshmi was awarded Paper presentation, Analysis of Paediatric Retina Summit Dr. Rema Mohan Gold Medal and high retention of clinical research Thiru. C.K.Kumaraswamy 51st participants in clinical trials conducted Chennai, July 11-13 birthday commemoration Gold in south Indian population. - Dr. Harshal Gondhale, Medical Medal for securing highest marks - Dr. Hema, Medical Consultant, in the MS Ophthalmology exam Aravind- Theni, Runner Up Officer, Retina Services, Aravind- in 2019. in Free Paper presentation, Madurai, award for the best - Dr. B. Harini Krishna was Telemedicine approach for Retinopathy photograph, Combined hamartoma of awarded the Dr. Rema Mohan of Prematurity screening in rural areas: retina and RPE. Gold Medal for securing Opportunities and challenges. - Dr. Prerana Shah, second prize highest mark in Diploma in - B.Vengadesh, Vision for the video, Raising the barrier for Ophthalmology exams in 2019. Rehabilitation Services, Aravind- pars plana vitrectomy for retinopathy of Madurai, Best Free Paper award, prematurity. Dr. Arkaprava Pradhan, Senior Non-visual desktop access computer resident, Aravind-Tirunelveli won training for visually impaired persons. the Dr. G. Venkataswamy Gold - I.Seran, Manager, Aravind- Medal in the All India DNB final Salem, Runner Up in Free Paper exam held in 2018. presentation, To analyse the incidence of wrong refraction and wrong Annual Conference of VISION glass prescriptions across all Aravind 2020: The Right to Sight - India Aravind-Chennai, June 8-9 - Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. MGR Medical University Convocation - Shri. Banwarilal Purohit, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu distributing gold medals to... Dr. N. Sivagami Dr. B. Harini Krishna Dr. M.S. Lakshmi 75

Intraocular Implant and Dr. Haripriya receiving the Dr. MN. Dr. Ashok Vardhan with the Orbis Refractive Society of India (IIRSI) International Medal for Best Free Paper Film Festival Awards Endowment award for the Best Free Presentation at ESCRS conference Chennai, July 6-7 Paper at TNOA Orbis International Medal Doctors from Aravind-Pondicherry bagged several awards. Madurai; Dr. Aswin, Medical Paris, France, September 14-18 - Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai and Dr. Ashok Vardhan, Chief Medical Dr. B. Pranesh, Medical Officer, Officer, Aravind - Tirupati received Officer and Dr. M.G. Pavan General Ophthalmology, Aravind- the medal for the Best Free Paper Kumar, Medical Consultant Coimbatore: Winner, Ophthalmic Presentation, High cataract surgical became runner up, Family Premier League. rate and universal eye care delivery model screening-An effective way to combat - Dr. S. Kavitha, Medical bringing elimination of cataract blindness glaucoma blindness Consultant, Glaucoma Services, in Theni district, India at the 37th - Dr. Prasanth Gireesh, Medical Aravind-Pondicherry, Best Paper Congress of the European Society Consultant, runner up for the Award in Glaucoma, Corneal of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons video, Piggyback phacoemulsification endothelial cell density changes six (ESCRS). of hypermature, Morgagnian and months after laser peripheral iridotomy phacolytic cataracts. – A prospective study. Best Paper Award - Medical Consultants, Dr. V. Cornea consultants, Dr. N. Rajesh and Dr. Sathish Kumar Shivananda, Aravind-Pondicherry Lucknow, September 20-22 Muddana received special and Dr. R. Seema, Aravind- Dr. Swati Upadhyaya, Glaucoma mention for their videos, 3D printer Chennai, Best Paper Award in Consultant, Aravind-Pondicherry in ophthalmology and Big data, big Cornea, A piggyback solution for a won the award for her paper titled change. piggyback problem Validation of a head-mounted virtual - Dr. M.G. Pavan Kumar, Medical reality visual field screening device at the Cutting Edge 2019: A Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Annual Conference of Glaucoma Symposium beyond Aravind-Pondicherry, Best Society of India. Trabeculectomy Paper Award in Comprehensive Ophthalmology, A self sufficient Best of Best Free Paper Award Pondicherry, July 13 - 14 mobile eye clinic model for developing Dr. P.R. Aswin, Medical Officer, countries. Kakinada, September 27-29 General Ophthalmology, Aravind- - Dr. Vedhanayaki, Consultant, Dr. Ramya Seetam Raju, Medical Madurai, first place in Shark Tank Uvea Services, Aravind-Madurai Consultant, Cornea & Refractive event and quiz competition. Best Paper Award in Uvea, Role of Services, Aravind - Madurai won the newer biologicals in the management of Best of Best Free Paper Award from Winner – Image Nation recalcitrant non-infectious uveitis. amongst 75 competitive papers at - Dr. B. Pranesh, Aravind-Madurai the Annual Conference of Andhra Trivandrum, July 19-20 Best Presentation in One case one Pradesh Ophthalmic Society. Dr. Ayshwaria Basker, Retina pearl Session. The title of the paper is “Does Fellow, Aravind-Pondicherry - Dr. Arun and Dr. Rishabh Desai, contemporary antimicrobial substitution emerged winner of the contest, DNB Residents, Aravind- in corneal storage media reduce donor rim Image-Nation, organised as part Tirunelveli, First Prize in ET contamination”? of the Retina Imaging Congress Selvam Quiz Competition. conducted by Chaithanya Eye Hospital, Trivandrum. Annual Conference of Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association Salem, August 9-11 - Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Dr. M N Endowment Award for the Best Free Paper in cataract. - Madurai Warriors team consisting of Dr. Usha Kim, Dr. Preethika Gandhi, Medical Officer, Cornea Services, Aravind- 76

Dr. Kunal Ashok Mandlik, winner-photo Ms. K. Lavanya - Best Poster award at Ms. Rudhra receiving the Best Poster contest by the CRST Europe EVER Congress award at IERG meeting Qualified NABH Assessor Video presentation - Second Annual Meeting of the Indian Prize Pediatric Glaucoma Society Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Coimbatore Kolkata, November 29-December 1 Hyderabad, December 7-8 was certified as an assessor by the Dr. Madhu Shekhar, Chief, Cataract Dr. Hiruni K Wijesinghe, Glaucoma National Accreditation Board for Services, Aravind-Madurai won Fellow, Aravind-Madurai won Best Hospitals and Healthcare providers second prize for the video titled Poster award for, A comparative study (NABH) in September 2019 for “Iridodialysis Repair- Simplified of glaucoma drainage device surgery in carrying out assessment of hospitals. Approach”. children and adults. Best Poster Awards Winner - Photo Contest Dr. Srilekha Pallamparthy, Glaucoma Fellow, Aravind- Ms. K. Lavanya, Senior Research Dr. Kunal Ashok Mandlik, Medical Madurai won the session on Clinical Fellow, Department of Immunology Consultant, Cornea and Refractive challenges in paediatric glaucoma for and Stem Cell Biology, AMRF won Services, Aravind-Pondicherry won the presentation, A case of unilateral the award for her poster titled, the photo contest in Ocular Trauma congenital glaucoma associated with Hsa-miR-150-5p regulates human corneal category in the Journal of Cataract and microcephaly and ipsilateral hemiplegia. epithelial stem cells through Wnt signalling Refractive Surgery Today (CRST) at the XXII European Association Europe. Association of University for Vision and Eye Research (EVER) Professor of Ophthalmology Congress held a Nice, France, from Erudio-Allergan Academic (AUPO) Resident & Fellow October 17-19. Achievers Award Research Forum Award Ms. O. Rudhra, Junior Research DNB Residents, Dr. Gawankar Dr. Siddharth Narendran, Medical Fellow, Department of Shweta Yogesh, Aravind- Officer, Aravind Eye Hospital, Microbiology, AMRF won award Coimbatore and Dr. Raksheeth Madurai, currently pursuing for the poster titled, Surface Proteome Nathan, Aravind-Theni won the Fellowship at University of Virginia, and Surface Morphology of Melanised and first and third prize respectively at Charlottesvilla, USA received the Non-melanised Conidiospores of the national level quiz programme award. This is the first time an Aspergillus flavus at the annual for postgraduate students in ophthalmologist trained in India has conference of Indian Eye Research ophthalmology. received the award. Group held in Chennai from July 26 to 28. She also won the award for Annual Conference of Cornea Best Poster Award her poster, Identification of causative Society of India organism of infectious keratitis using Chennai, December 7-8 NGS method at the International Kumarakom, Kerala, December 13-15 Dr. Mahima Bankar, Fellow- Conference on Synergy of Sciences Dr. Josephine Christy, Cornea Paediatric Ophthalmology Services, held at SASTRA Deemed University, and Refractive Services, Aravind- Aravind-Pondicherry, award for the Thanjavur, from February 27-29. Pondicherry, bagged First Prize in poster, Normative data of paediatric photo contest. OCT in South population at the Annual Conference of Strabismus and Dr. R. Naveen, Cornea and Refractive Services, Aravind- 77 Madurai won First Prize in Just a Minute session.

Dr. Srilekha Pallamparthy receiving award for the best case Dr. Hiruni K Wijesinghe receiving the Best Poster award presentation Paediatric Ophthalmology Society titled, Iridodialysis repair - simplified Best presentation in Neuro- approach. ophthalmology- Poster podium of India. - Dr. Manavi D Sindal and session for the presentation titled, Dr. Harshal Pradeep Gondhale, Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy Awards at All India Ophthalmic Retina consultants, Aravind- and central retinal artery occlusion in Conference 2020 Pondicherry, Best Paper award, Takayasu arteritis. Poster podium presentation. - Dr. Shishir Verghese - Best Paper Gurugram, Haryana, February 13-16 - Dr. O. Annamalai, Medical Award in Neuro-ophthalmology - Dr. Haripriya Aravind received Consultant - Glaucoma Services, session, Assessment of retinal Aravind-Pondicherry, Runner up manifestations of Parkinson’s disease Sante Vision award for Best in Microvision Quiz 2020 using OCT: A study in Indian eyes. Paper. - Dr. Pranesh, Medical Officer- - Dr. Piyush Kohli - Best Video - Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Dr. General Ophthalmology, Award for the video titled, Tips S.Senthilkumari, AIOS-IJO Silver Aravind-Coimbatore, First and tricks in vitreoretinal surgeries. Award for best publication in IJO prize in National YOSI Writing 2019 for the publication, Human Competition. Best Case Presentation Award amniotic membrane as a drug carrier - Dr. Prithvi Chandrakanth, - An in-vitro study using fortified General Ophthalmology Fellow, Dr. Mano Aarthi, DNB Resident, cefazolin ophthalmic solution. Aravind-Coimbatore, Best Aravind-Theni received 1st - Dr. Madhu Shekar, Chief publication in IJO 2019. prize in case presentation at the - Cataract Services, Aravind- - Dr. Mano Aarthi, Final year Postgraduate Talent Fest conducted Madurai - Winner of New DNB Resident, Aravind-Theni, by Thanjavur Medical College on Technique: Film Festival of AIOC (FIFA) for the video March 14. Dr. Haripriya receiving the Sante Vision award for Best Paper Dr. Madhu Shekar with the FIFA - AIOC award 78

Aravind Eye Foundation Aravind Eye Foundation was founded in 2000 to school employed him as teacher for some time, but later support Dr. G. Venkataswamy’s mission to eliminate he had to quit. He married, and a year later the couple needless blindness through a combination of was blessed with baby girl Kirthiga. The mother noticed philanthropy, volunteerism and strategic partnering. a white reflex in the baby’s eyes, and they brought her Foundation board members and advisors come to Aravind. Kirthiga was just one and a half years old from a wide variety of fields, including clinical care, when she was diagnosed with cancer in both eyes. One medical research, accessible technology and new eye had to be removed and the other one is undergoing product development, venture capital, and healthcare chemotherapy. Her father Biju is now receiving management. Aravind’s core patient services are self- rehabilitation services at Aravind, also free of cost. He sustaining, so the foundation works to scale existing hopes to go back to work and support his family. programs or stimulate new research and service development. Aravind Eye Foundation is grateful to the Madison Community Foundation Jaya G. Iyer Endowment Ring of Hope Fund, the Umberto Romano and Clorinda Romano Foundation, the Sohum Foundation, the Yvette and Since its founding in 2004, Aravind’s Ring of Hope Derryk Dias Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. William B. program has supported 9,370 patients including adults Stewart, and the many individuals who support with ocular tumours and saved the sight and lives of Aravind’s patients and their families. 1,716 patients suffering from retinoblastoma, a virulent, often fatal eye cancer, primarily affecting ages 0 to 5 Spectacles for Scholars years. Poor eyesight adversely impacts a child’s ability to This past year, Aravind expanded its Ring of Hope learn, since 80% of learning happens visually, and program to provide care for adult patients suffering affects future employment and economic prosperity. from eye cancer and to pay for rehabilitation services. Around the world, an estimated 12 million children have Cancer treatment can be a catastrophic event for a visual impairments that can be corrected with a pair of family, burdening them with debt they can never repay. spectacles. Aravind’s Spectacles for Scholars program If the patient is the main wage earner for the family, addresses this problem with free vision screening and there is the additional strain of lost income. eyeglasses to school children in low-income areas. Through a multi-year partnership with WarbyParker, Biju and his daughter Kirthiga are two of the US retail and online eyewear company, Aravind Aravind’s courageous survivors. As a child, Biju screened 254,000 children and distributed 12,446 pairs had retinoblastoma and had both his eyes removed. of spectacles this year. Completely blind, he has had difficulty finding work. A Vision screening at Sivananda Vidyalayam Matriculation Mr. Biju and his daughter Kirthiga School, Aruppukottai 79

Rural Vision Centers Genetic testing for retinoblastoma Rural vision centers are the cornerstone of Aravind’s goal to make basic eye care accessible to all. Each center serves a population of 50,000 to 70,000 and is connected to one of the base hospitals via Aravind’s award-winning teleophthalmology system. Aravind Eye Foundation provides the seed capital for a center’s set- up and the first year’s operating costs; most centers are break-even by year two from fees and eyeglass sales. Since 2011, the foundation has sponsored 16 vision centers, providing basic eye care for nearly 130,000 patients. 4,834 patients have been referred to various Aravind hospitals for cataract surgery and more than 15,000 patients have ordered glasses. Research research facility. Genetic testing for eye cancer costs around $2000 per patient in most labs around the Aravind’s genetic testing program for Retinoblastoma world, but Aravind provides the same tests at $250 in has helped more than 250 patients and their families India, due to lower cost lab techniques. through 1) precise identification of their cancer’s genetic cause, leading to improved treatment, 2) assessment Thank you to the Madison Community Foundation’s of risk for future generations, and 3) eliminating the Jaya G. Iyer Endowment Fund and the Sohum possible risk of secondary cancers during their lifetime. Foundation for helping us to expand the genetic testing program. Aravind has expanded its successful genetic testing program to cover all ocular tumors affecting adults, Capacity Building as well as children. At eye hospitals in India, patients are frequently seen with aggressive lymphoma and Dr. V’s mission to eliminate needless blindness knows melanoma tumors, which are deadly if not diagnosed no borders. Aravind trains staff and advises hospitals and treated on time. These tumors affect mainly adults in other parts of India and other countries to expand in the working-age group, and most of them lose their capacity and improve the quality of eye care. battle with cancer due to advanced stage of the disease, leaving their families bereft and without means of Currently, Aravind is working with hospitals in support. Prediction and early detection can save their Northern India, thanks to a grant from MAQ Software lives. and hospitals throughout India and Bangladesh with support from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind. Aravind Aravind is in a unique position to conduct genetic Eye Foundation is also thankful to the Conrad N. Hilton testing, because of its high patient volumes and the for their support of Aravind’s work in Sub-Saharan close connection between its hospitals and the medical Africa. “Intelligence and capability are not enough. There must be the joy of doing something beautiful.” (From the journals of Dr. G.Venkataswamy) Aravind Eye Foundation is deeply grateful to the many supporters and friends who participate in the joy of Aravind’s vision. 80

Partners in Service Aravind is ever grateful to organisations and individuals for their contributions in its mission of restoring sight. The organisation acknowledges their whole-hearted support and looks forward to a continuing journey of partnership. For service delivery, training - So-Hum Foundation, USA - India Alliance, Hyderabad, India and more - Subroto Bagchi, Odisha, India - Indian Council of Medical Research, - The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, - Alcon Laboratories Inc, USA New Delhi, India - Carl Zeiss Meditec, Germany UK - Indian Paediatric Glaucoma Interest Group - CBM International, Germany - The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical - Centre for Innovation in Public Systems, (IPGI), Chandigarh University - Indian School of Business, Hyderabad Hyderabad, India - Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, India - John Hopkins University, USA - Combat Blindness Foundation, USA - TOMS, USA - Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, - Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, USA - Topcon, Japan - Dana Center, Johns Hopkins University, - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, USA - London Business School, UK USA Canada - Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, - Essilor, India - University of California, Berkeley, USA - Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia - University of Michigan, USA India - General Insurance Corporation of India, - USAID, USA - Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, - VISION 2020 - The Right to Sight, India Mumbai, India - Wescott Williams Ltd., UK Harvard Medical School, Boston MA - HCL Foundation, New Delhi, India - World Diabetes Foundation, Denmark - Michigan State University, USA - Indian Overseas Bank, India - World Health Organization, Switzerland - MIND TREE, Bangalore, India - International Agency for Prevention of - XOVA: Excellence in Ophthalmology Vision - Moorfields Eye Hospital, London - National Eye Institute, USA Blindness, UK Award, USA - National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, - International Council for Ophthalmology, For research Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore USA - National University of Singapore, Singapore - Kaushal Devendra Gupta, Pune, India - Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India - Neuroptics Research Laboratory, Berkeley, - Lavelle Fund for the Blind, USA - Aravind Eye Foundation, USA - Lions Clubs International Foundation, USA - Cognizant Foundation, Chennai, India USA - London School of Hygiene & Tropical - Cornell University, Ithaca, USA - Peninsula Eye surgery centre, Los Altos, CA - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, - Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, India Medicine, UK - Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education - Manohar Devadoss, Chennai, India New Delhi, India - Mehra Eyetech Private Limited, Puducherry - Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, and Research, Chandigarh, India - Novartis, Switzerland - Proctor Foundation, University of - ORBIS International, USA India - Rotary International, USA - Department of Health Research, New Delhi, California, San Francisco, USA - Schwab Foundation and Social - Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), India Entrepreneurship, Switzerland - Department of Science and Technology, Gurgaon, Haryana - Seva Canada - Queens University Belfast, UK - Seva Foundation, USA New Delhi, India - Sastra University, Thanjavur, India - Shyam Prakash Gupta, Madurai, India - Duke University, USA - Science and Engineering Research Board, - SightLife, USA - Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, - SightSavers, UK New Delhi, India - State Bank of India, India Dartmouth - Seva Foundation, USA - Standard Chartered Bank & Scope Intl., UK - Google, Mountainview, CA - Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore - Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon NH, National Eye Centre, Singapore USA - Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore - State University of New York (SUNY), Aravind took great pride in hosting a Buffalo, New York, USA community event to - Sun Pharma, Mumbai, India celebrate Mr. Manohar - Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, Devadoss, a long-time friend and supporter of Massachusetts, USA Aravind, being awarded - Unite des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Paris the Padma Shri.The - University College, London event was organised in - University of California, Berkeley, USA collaboration Madurai - University of California, San Francisco, Readers’ Club. USA - University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK - University of Ulster, Northern Island, UK - Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India - Wellcome Trust, UK - Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, USA - World Health Organization, Switzerland 81

ARAVIND EYE CARE SYSTEM Chairman & CENTRAL FUNCTIONS Director-Quality Dr. R.D. Ravindran, ms, do FINANCE PROJECTS Director Chairman Emeritus & Director Dr. S. Aravind, ms, mba Director-Research Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, ms, fams Er. G. Srinivasan, be, ms INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Director Directors Emeritus Secretary Dr. R. Kim, do, dnb Dr. G. Natchiar, ms, do Chief Information Officer(CIO) Dr. M. Srinivasan, ms, do, fams Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, do, dnb, Saravanan Sankaran, b.tech, m.s - sb it frco IT Manager, Operations & Support Venkatesan, mca Development & Operations IT Infrastructure S.J. Rajan, mca Chitra Prasad, m.com, mba IT Service Management Santha Subbulakshmi, mca, mba, OPERATIONS m.li.sc Director Thulasiraj Ravilla, mba ARAVIND COMMUNICATIONS Chitra Thulasiraj, b.sc Senior Manager Manager B.S. Ganesh Babu, m.com, ms Anuja Sanil, ma HUMAN RESOURCES PURCHASE & MAINTENANCE S. Jayachandran, mhm Director Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, do, dnb BIOSTATISTICS M. Iswarya, m.sc. Manager R. Deepa, mhm LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE Chief Librarian ACADEMICS Dr. R. Kumaragurupari, m.li.sc, ph.d Director-Residency Training Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, do, dnb, frco Director-Mid Level Ophthalmic Personnel Dr. Usha Kim, do, dnb Academic Consultant Prof. J. Danrita 82

GOVERNING BODIES Aravind Eye Hospitals & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology and Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology GOVERNED BY GOVEL Trust BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. G. Venkataswamy Eye Research Institute Trust President GOVERNED BY Er. G. Srinivasan Aravind Medical Research Trust Secretary Foundation Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna do, dnb, BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Aurolab frco Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, ms, fams GOVERNED BY Members Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, ms, fams Dr. G. Natchiar, ms, do Aurolab Trust Mrs. Lalitha Srinivasan Er. G. Srinivasan Dr. G. Natchiar, ms, do Thulasiraj Ravilla, mba BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Ravi Nallakrishnan Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, do, dnb Dr. R. Kim, do, dnb Dr. R. Kim, do, dnb Trust President Dr. S. Aravind, ms, mba Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, do, dnb, frco Thulasiraj Ravilla, mba Dr. S. Kalpana Narendran, do, dnb Dr. S. Aravind, ms, mba Trust Secretary Dr. R. Usha Kim, do, dnb Dr. S. Aravind, ms, mba Members President, Rotary Club, Er. G. Srinivasan, be, ms Madurai Main Branch - Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, ms, fams (Ex-Officio) Dr. G. Natchiar, ms, do Dr. R. Kim, do, dnb 83

Aravind Eye Hospitals & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology ARAVIND-MADURAI PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY & GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY ADULT STRABISMUS SERVICES SERVICES Chief Medical Officer Chief Chief Dr. R. Kim, do, dnb Dr. Shashikant Shetty, ms Dr. Pamona Samson, do Senior Medical Consultant Medical Consultants & RETINA-VITREOUS SERVICES Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi, ms, do Medical Officers Medical Consultants Dr. Raji Koshy Daniel, do Chief Dr. A. Rupa, do Dr. C. Abinaya, ms Dr. K. Naresh Babu, ms Dr. B. Sahithya, ms Dr. P.R. Aswin, ms Dr. R. Janani, ms Dr. Vinitha L Rashme, ms Senior Medical Consultant Dr. Nithya Sridharan, do Dr. R. Kim, do, dnb GLAUCOMA SERVICES Dr. S. Rekha, ms Chief Dr. M. Sai Dheera, ms Medical Consultants Dr. George Varghese Puthuran, ms Dr. M. Elackiya, ms Senior Medical Consultant Dr. P. Sarvesswaran, do Dr. T.P. Vignesh, ms Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, do, dnb Dr. R. Priya, do Dr. Renu P Rajan, md Medical Consultants Dr. Pradeepa Balakrishnan, do Dr. Karthik Kumar, ms Dr. Manju R Pillai, do, dnb Dr. M. Abirami Priyadarshini, do Dr. Haemoglobin, ms Dr. R. Sharmila, dnb Dr. B. Harinikrishna, do Dr. Jayant Kumar, ms Dr. S. Vidya, do Dr. M. Nivedita, do Dr. Girish V Baliga, ms Dr. H. Kasthuri Bai, do, dnb Dr. S. Maya Sekar, ms Dr. Chitaranjan Misra, dnb Dr. Indira Durai, dnb Dr. S.S. Krithika, ms Dr. Aditya Maitray, ms Dr. Deeba Ishrath, do Dr. N. Obuli Ramachandran, md Dr. A. Vijayalakshmi, ms VISION REHABILITATION CENTRE Dr. Piyush Kohli, ms Dr. G.N. Subathra, ms Senior Medical Consultant Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi, ms, do INTRAOCULAR LENS & CATARACT UVEA SERVICES Chief / Principal MICROBIOLOGIST SERVICES Dr. S.R. Rathinam, do, dnb, ph.d Chief Medical Consultants Dr. S. Lalitha Prajna, md, dnb Chief Dr. T. Radhika, dnb Dr. Madhu Shekhar, ms Dr. R. Vedhanayaki, do ANAESTHETISTS Dr. S. Anjana, dnb Dr. A. Ravichandar, md, da Medical Consultants Dr. M. Rekha, md Dr. Aruna Pai, ms ORBIT, OCULOPLASTY AND Dr. Gomathi Ramya, do OCULAR ONCOLOGY AND OCULAR PHYSICIANS Dr. R. Sankarananthan, ms PROSTHETIC SERVICES Dr. R. Banushree, md Dr. C.A. Dhanya, ms Chief Dr. Naveen Meera, ms Dr. H.S. Bhanumathi, do, dnb Dr. Usha Kim, do, dnb Medical Consultants FREE HOSPITAL CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY Dr. Meghana Tanwar, do, dnb Chief Dr. Gunja Chowdhury, do, dnb Dr. V.P. Ravichandran, do SERVICES NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY NURSING Chief SERVICES Nursing Superintendents Chief B. Dhagirnisa Begum Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, do, dnb, Dr. S. Mahesh Kumar, do, dnb R. Jeeva Medical Consultants MLOP Manpower Co-ordinator frco Dr. A. Kowsalya, do, dnb - Central HR Dr. K.N. Jayasri, do S. Krishnaveni Senior Medical Consultant Dr. M. Srinivasan, ms, do, fams Medical Consultants Dr. Manoranjan Das, dnb Dr. Ashwin B, do Dr. R. Naveen, ms Dr. Preethika Gandhi, ms Dr. V. Raghuram, ms Dr. S. Suvitha, ms Dr. Sankalp Singh Sharma, do, dnb Dr. D. Abirama Sundari, ms 84

ADMINISTRATION NURSING PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY & Nursing Superintendents Senior Manager-Clinical Services R. Seeniammal ADULT STRABISMUS SERVICES R. Meenakshi Sundaram, mhm R. Gowri Transport & Public Relations Officer Chief S.G. Ramanathan, m.a ADMINISTRATION Dr. R. Meenakshi, do, dnb Manager-Vision Centre Manager-Outreach R. Balasiva, ba, msw Medical Consultants P. Jeyaram, b.sc Manager-Camp Dr. A. Fathima, ms V. Jeyaraj, ba Dr. Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, do, dnb Manager-Insurance Services & IT & Systems Dr. Neelam Pawar, ms NABH Accreditation Co-ordinator K. Saravanan, b.sc Dr. Anuraag S. Gandhi, dnb R. Sunytha, ma, mba, dll ARAVIND-TIRUNELVELI GLAUCOMA SERVICES Manager-Instructional Design Hepsibha Jawahar, ma Advisor Chief Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, ms, do Dr. Mohideen Abdul Kader, dnb Manager-Office Chief Medical Officer K.S. Kandasamy, ba Dr. R. Meenakshi, do, dnb Medical Consultants Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, ms, do Accounts Officer RETINA-VITREOUS SERVICES Dr. Devendra Maheswari, ms R. Rethinasabapathy, ba Dr. R. Aarthy, ms Chief Dr. R. Sindhushree, ms Manager-Accounts Dr. Syed Mohideen Abdul Khadar, Dr. Shylesh Dabke, ms R. Velumani, b.com, (aca) Dr. K.V. Saranya, ms ms Dr. Sanjana Suresh Rao, dnb Manager-Free Hospital Dr. Ashwin Segi, ms R. Ramesh Babu, ba, ma Medical Consultants Dr. Utpal Halder, ms ORBIT, OCULOPLASTY AND Electrical Engineer Dr. Vinit Shah, dnb N. Balakrishnan, me Dr. Adheesh P.Shetty, ms OCULAR ONCOLOGY SERVICES Dr. Syed Saifuddin Adeel, dnb Manager-Electrical Chief R.V. Vishnu Kumar, dece Dr. V. Maneksha, ms Manager - IT & Systems INTRAOCULAR LENS & CATARACT NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY S. Rajkumar, m.sc SERVICES SERVICES Manager-Vision Centre G. Jhansi Sunitha, ma Chief Dr. S. Padmavathy, ms Manager-Stores PR. Sigappi, msw Chief CONSULTANT ANAESTHETIST Librarian Dr. R. Govidarajan, m.li.sc, ph.d Dr. Shivkumar Chandrashekharan, Dr. S. Navaneetha Krishnan, mbbs, ARAVIND-THENI ms d.a Medical Consultants GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY Chief Medical Officer Dr. M. Sherin Haroon, ms SERVICES Dr. Dipankar Datta, do, dnb, mnams, Dr. Abhijith, ms Medical Consultants Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, ms, do (oph) CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY Dr. S. Padmavathy, ms Dr. V. Maneksha, ms Medical Consultants SERVICES Dr. Kavya, do Dr. D. Hema, ms Chief Dr. V. Anitha, dnb, faico Dr.V. Balaji, ms Medical Consultants Dr. K. Dhanya, do, dnb Dr. Aditya Sanjeev Ghorpade, dnb Dr. Shobita Nair, dnb Dr. J. Ashok, ms VISION REHABILITATION CENTRE Dr. A. Fathima, ms Dr. Mourya Devila Palli, ms 85

FREE HOSPITAL Dr. Dhrubojyoti Saha, ms Dr. Amrudha Sindhu, dnb Dr. Diviyan Abraham, ms Dr. Prabhu Nissi, ms Dr. Shilpa Rao, ms Manager Dr. Raghuraman, ms Dr. Pathil Parth Amardeep, dnb S. Balakrishnan, puc Dr. Reshma Balan, ms, dnb Dr. Srushti D.S. Dr. Shah Shreyas Ranjit, dnb Dr. Vanathi N, dnb NURSING Dr. Shishir Verghese, ms Nursing Superintendents Dr. Basil George, ms GLAUCOMA SERVICES V. Arumugam Chief A. S. Shanmuga Sundari PAEDIATRIC RETINA AND OCULAR Dr. Ganesh V Raman, ms ONCOLOGY SERVICES Medical Consultants ADMINISTRATION Senior Medical Consultant Dr. C. Prem Anand, ms Manager-Office Dr. Parag K Shah, dnb Dr. Mrunali Mohan, ms P. Navaneetha Krishnan, puc Medical Consultants Dr. A. Vinoth, ms Public Relations Officer Dr. S. Prema, ms Dr. Menaka, do, dnb M. Mahadevan, d.pharm Dr. Ratnesh Ranjan, ms Dr. Siva Prasanna T, ms Manager-Human Resource Dr. Abhishek Das, ms R. Lakshmi, mba UVEA SERVICES Manager-Quality & Inpatient INTRAOCULAR LENS & CATARACT Chief Services SERVICES Dr. V.K. Anuradha, md, frcs M. Vikky Kumar, mba Chief Medical Consultant Manager-Glaucoma Clinic Dr. Kalpana Narendran, do, dnb Dr. Shubhank Khare, ms D. Ranitha Guna Selvi, bpt, mba Medical Consultants Manager-IT & Systems Dr. S. Guhapriya, dnb ORBIT, OCULOPLASTY AND P. Thiruvengadam, ma, pgdca Dr. S. Navaneeth Kumar, ms OCULAR ONCOLOGY SERVICES Manager-Projects & Outreach Dr. R. Jayanthi, ms Chief P. Hariesh Kumar, mba Dr. Hridya Mohan, ms Dr. Viji Rangarajan, do Manager-Administration Dr. Gamidi Bindu Madhavi, ms Medical Consultants M. Muthupandian, puc Dr. Kavitha Yuvarajan, do, dnb Assistant Administrator CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY Dr. Srisha Polkampally, ms M.N. Chidhambaram, puc SERVICES Dr. Renu Bansal, do, dnb Librarian Chief E. Perumalsamy, m.lisc, m.phil Dr. R. Revathi, ms NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY Medical Consultants SERVICES ARAVIND-COIMBATORE Dr. Anita Raghavan, do, frcs (g) Chief Dr. P. Mangala, dnb Dr. Virna Shah, do Chief Medical Officer Dr. V. Prabhu, ms Medical Consultant Dr. V. Narendran, do, dnb Dr. Devi Rosette, ms Dr. M. Karthik Kumar, do Dr. N. Kavitha, ms RETINA-VITREOUS SERVICES Dr. Maitrayee Kammen, ms GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY Chief Dr. Arjun, do, ms, dnb Medical Consultants Dr. V.R. Saravanan, do, dnb Dr. Sneha Prabhu, ms Dr. Anita Mohanan, ms Medical Consultants Dr. P. Shalini, ms Dr. P. Vivekanand, do, dnb Dr. V. Narendran, do, dnb Dr. Chandrasekar, ms Dr. Rodney John Morris, ms PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY & Dr. S. Dhanalakshmi, do Dr. George Manayath, ms, frcs ADULT STRABISMUS SERVICES Dr. Senthamilselvi, do Dr. Karan Annapur Kumarasamy, ms Chief Dr. A. Srinila, do Dr. Palmeera D Souza, do, dnb Dr. Kalpana Narendran, do, dnb Dr. D. Balasaraswathy, ms Dr. A. Ramya, md Medical Consultants Dr. Bagavath Shalini, ms Dr. Prashanth A.S, ms Dr. C. Sandra, do, dnb Dr. Deepa, dnb Dr. Sasikala Elizabeth, dnb Dr. Duggirala Varun, ms 86

Dr. Sunada Subramanian, dnb ARAVIND-PONDICHERRY Dr. O. Annamalai, do, dnb Dr. Pranesh, ms Dr. C.R. Viswaraj, ms Dr. Sangeetha V, do Chief Medical Officer Dr. M.G. Pavan Kumar, do, ms, dnb Dr. R. Venkatesh, do, dnb Dr. Umesh Krishna, ms CITY CENTRE - ARAVIND EYE Dr. G. Megha, ms RETINA-VITREOUS SERVICES HOSPITAL, COIMBATORE Chief ORBIT, OCULOPLASTY & OCULAR Dr. Manavi D. Sindal, ms ONCOLOGY SERVICES Medical Consultants Medical Consultants Chief Dr. Rohan Daniel Dawalikar, ms Dr. Pankaja Dhoble, ms Dr. R. Jayagayathri, do, dnb Dr. Manju Vinythera, dnb Dr. Ayushi Sinha, dnb Medical Consultant Dr. Suganya, ms Dr. Roshni Mohan, ms Dr. Dayakar Yadalla, ms, frcs Dr. S. Sivaranjani, ms NURSING Dr. Nikita Sonawane, ms NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY Dr. Divya Yadav, ms SERVICES Nursing Superintendent Chief S. Sulochana INTRAOCULAR LENS & CATARACT Dr. S. Priya, ms SERVICES Assistant-Nursing Superintendent Chief UVEA SERVICES R. Radhika Dr. V.R. Vivekanandan, ms Chief Medical Consultant Dr. S. Bala Murugan, ms ADMINISTRATION Dr. Merlin Benzy, ms GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY Manager-Administration CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY SERVICES SERVICES Medical Consultants S. Sangeetha, mha Chief Dr. D. Balamuruganandaraj, do Dr. N. Shivananda, ms Dr. R. Swetha, do Manager-HR Medical Consultants Dr. M. Janani, dnb Dr. M. Purushothama Rajkumar, ms Dr. N. Sivagami, do R. Umapriya, ma, ptsta Dr. Josephine Christy, ms Dr. V. Gayathri, dnb Dr. V. Rajesh, ms Dr. K. Vanishree, dnb Manager-Personnel Dr. P.J. Aruna, ms Dr. R. Swathi, ms Dr. Kunal Mandlik, ms Dr. A. Balraj, dip.n.b R. Jebadurai, ba, pgdpm Dr. Kulharsh B Jaiswal, ms Dr. Rakesh A. Betdur, ms NURSING Manager-Transport Nursing Superintendents PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY & R.V. Selvarani D. Karthikeyan, dip, cop ADULT STRABISMUS SERVICES A. Subbulakshmi Chief Manager-IT Systems Dr. K. Veena, do, dnb ADMINISTRATION Medical Consultants Manager-Administration S. Thirunavukkarasu, m.sc, (it), Dr. Marie Fredrick Mouttappa, do, dnb V. Santhanam, b.com Dr. Anjali Khadia, ms Manager-General PGDSD P. Kanagaraj, be GLAUCOMA SERVICES Manager-Human Resource Manager-MRD Chief A. Sumathi, mba Dr. S. Kavitha, ms Manager-Camp V. Hemalatha, m.phil Medical Consultants A. Xavier, b.sc Dr. Swati Upadhyaya, do, dnb Manager-Transport & Security Manager-Quality Assurance K. Kaveri, b.a R. Gautham Kumar, m.sc. ha Manager- Patient Care B. Vignesh, mba Electrical Engineer A.M. Appusamy, d.e.e.e Civil Engineer S. Ganapathi, d.c.e Librarian K. Alagumani, m.li.sc, m.phil 87

Manager-Maintenance NURSING SUPERINTENDENT UVEA SERVICES P. Thanapal, dce B.S. Indirani Medical Consultant Manager-Patient Care & Quality Dr. Eliza Anthony, dnb Assurance ADMINISTRATION N. Vengadesan, mba Manage-Patient Care ORBIT, OCULOPLASTY AND Manager-Patient Care I. Seran, mba (hm); fehm OCULAR ONCOLOGY SERVICES K. Kalaivendan, mba Manager Accounts & Finance Medical Consultants Manager - IT & Systems Sakthivel Dr. Jayashree, do, dnb M. Ashok, mca IT & Systems Dr. Gayatri Fulse, do, dnb Manager - Free Hospital & Vision A. Kumaresan, bca Centre NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY K. Harikrishnan, ba ARAVIND-CHENNAI SERVICES Manager - Stores Medical Consultant S. Vadivelmurugan, b.sc Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nirmala Devy, do Librarian Dr. S. Aravind, ms, mba C. Mahalakshmi, m.li.sc GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY RETINA-VITREOUS SERVICES Medical Consultants ARAVIND-SALEM Chief Dr. R. Josephine Shyamala, dnb Dr. Anand Rajendran, dnb, frcs Dr. Anuradha, dnb Chief Medical Officer Medical Consultants Dr. Aarthy, ms Dr. B. Manohar Babu, ms Dr. Karthik Srinivasan, ms Dr. Prabhu Baskaran, ms, dnb ANAESTHETIST CATARACT & UVEA SERVICES Dr. Indu G, ms Dr. Jacintha, dnb, da Chief Dr. B. Manohar Babu, ms INTRAOCULAR LENS & CATARACT PHYSICIANS SERVICES Dr. Joeimon, md, dmm RETINA-VITREOUS SERVICES Chief Dr. J.P. Janish Prabhakar, mbbs Medical Consultant Dr. Haripriya Aravind, ms Dr. K. Hemalatha, ms Medical Consultant ADMINISTRATION Dr. Sudha Palaniappan,doms,dnb,fico Manager-Finance & Insurance CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY P. Poobalan, b.com Medical Consultants CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY IT & Systems Dr. J. Anuja, ms, SERVICES Ajmal Hussain, bca, dce Dr. Lokeshwari, ms Chief Dr. K. Tiruvengada Krishnan, dnb ARAVIND-TIRUPATI GLAUCOMA SERVICES Medical Consultants Medical Consultants Dr. M. Divya, ms Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ramesh, ms Dr. Seema Ramakrishnan,do,dnb,fico Dr. Ashok Vardhan, do, dnb Dr. Sapna, ms Dr. Bhramaramba Banagar, ms PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY & RETINA-VITREOUS SERVICES ADULT STRABISMUS SERVICES Medical Consultants GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY Medical Consultant Dr. Y. C. Venugopal Reddy, ms SERVCIES Dr. Ankita Bisani, do, dnb, fico Dr. Upendra Babu, ms Medical Consultants Dr. M. Lavanya, ms GLAUCOMA SERVICES INTRAOCULAR LENS & CATARACT Dr. Jayasudha, do Medical Consultants SERVICES Dr. Keerthana, ms Dr. Neethu Mohan, ms Medical Consultant Dr. Uma, ms Dr. Madhuri, ms, dnb Dr. Preeti Mohanty, ms, dnb Dr. V. Prasanna, ms, fico 88

CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY ARAVIND-TIRUPUR Aravind Integrated SERVICES Eye Bank Services Medical Consultant Medical Consultants (AIEBS) Dr. Balakrishna Balaka, ms Dr. Priyanka R, ms Dr. Nedhina E.K, dnb Director PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY & Dr. M. Srinivasan, ms, do, fams ADULT STRABISMUS SERVICES ARAVIND-DINDIGUL Medical Officer ROTARY ARAVIND Dr. Sathya T. Ravilla, ms Medical Consultants INTERNATIONAL EYE BANK, Dr. P. Nanda Kishore, do, dnb MADURAI GLAUCOMA SERVICES Dr. R. Vigneshwar, ms Chief Manager Technical Director Dr. S. Ashok Vardhan, do, dnb R. Balasubramani, m.sc Dr. Lalitha Prajna, md, dnb Medical Consultants Medical Director Designee Dr. Sreenath, do, dnb ARAVIND-TUTICORIN Dr. Manoranjan Das, dnb Dr. Vijayalakshmi Alle, ms Manager Dr. Swathi, dnb Medical Consultants D. Saravanan, msw, m.phil, mba (hr) Dr. G. Anitha, do, dnb ANAESTHETIST Dr. S. Kanimozhi, ms pgdc Dr. M. Sajith, md Manager-Patient Care & Administration ROTARY ARAVIND EYE BANK, PHYSICIANS N. Mohammed Ghouse, mba TIRUNELVELI Dr. Ujjwala, md Manager-Office Dr. Bollu Keerthi, md A. Nammalvar, b.sc Medical Director Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, ms, do ADMINISTRATION ARAVIND-UDUMALPET Medical Director Designee Manager-Administration & Finance Dr. V. Anitha, dnb, faico K. Kesava Kumar, b.sc. b.ed, l.l.b, Medical Consultants Manager-Patient Care, Dr. Jebinth Brayan, ms ARAVIND-IOB EYE BANK, Damien Jacob, mba Dr. Mohamed Faheem, ms COIMBATORE Manager-Camp & Liaisonning Dr. Manu Thomas, ms Officer Manager-Office Medical Director N.S. Ravi, m.sc., hdc V. Mouna Gurusamy Dr. V. Narendran, do, dnb Manager-Maintenance Medical Director Designee Venkateswarulu Thota, b.tech ARAVIND-KOVILPATTI Dr. Anitha Raghavan, do, frcs (g) (civil) Medical Consultant ARAVIND EYE BANK IT & Systems Dr. M. Sivadarshan, ms ASSOCIATION OF M. Sankar, b.tech PONDICHERRY Medical Director Dr. N. Shivananda, ms Medical Director Designee Dr. V. Rajesh, ms 89

Lions Aravind Aravind Medical MICROBIOLOGY Institute of Research Foundation Community Clinician Scientists Ophthalmology Dr. Lalitha Prajna, md, dnb Dr. S.R. Rathinam, fams, ph.d Grant Administrator Ln. N.A.K. Gopalakrishnaraja, mjf President BIOINFORMATICS Executive Director Scientist Thulasiraj Ravilla, mba Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, ms, fams Dr. D. Bharanidharan, m.sc, ph.d Senior Faculty B.S. Ganesh Babu, m.com Vice President PATHOLOGIST R. Meenakshi Sundaram, mhm Dr. R. Shanthi, md V. Vijayakumar, msw, m.phil Dr. G. Natchiar, ms, do R. Suresh Kumar, ma, pgdhm Aurolab Sanil Joseph, mha, m.sc Secretary & Treasurer Dhivya Ramasamy, mba Managing Director - Emeritus Mohammad Gowth, ma, pgdhm Dr. R. Kim, do, dnb Dr. P. Balakrishnan, be, ph.d Faculty Managing Director A. Syed Ali, ma Director-Research R.D. Sriram, be D. Yesunesan, msw Division Manager-Pharmaceuticals B. Udayakumar, msw Prof. K. Dharmalingam, V. Venkatesa Kannan, m.sc, pgdpmir Administrator Division Manager-Intraocular Lens G. Krishna Veni, m.sc m.sc, ph.d R. Sundara Ganesh, be Division Manager-Suture Needle Advisor-Research R.K. Ramnath, be Division Manager-Surgical Blade Prof. VR. Muthukkaruppan, S. Saravanan, be Marketing Manager-Exports m.sc, ph.d N. Vishnu Prasad, mhm, mba Marketing Manager-Domestic MOLECULAR GENETICS S. Sivanand, b.sc, mba Manager-Regulatory Affairs Senior Scientist R. Krishna Kumar, b.pharm, ms Dr. P. Sundaresan, m.sc, ph.d Manager-Human Resources V. Swetha, mba Scientist Manager-IT & Systems Dr. A. Vanniarajan, m.sc, ph.d K.R. Sankar, m.sc Production Supervisor IMMUNOLOGY & STEM CELL L. Lingammal BIOLOGY Scientists Prof. VR. Muthukkaruppan, m.sc, ph.d Dr. Gowripriya Chidambaranathan, m.sc, ph.d OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY Scientist Dr. S. Senthilkumari, m.pharm, ph.d PROTEOMICS Director Prof. K. Dharmalingam, m.sc, ph.d Scientists Dr. J. Jeya Maheshwari, m.sc, ph.d Dr. O.G. Ram Prasad, m.sc, ph.d 90



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