MGR University
Aravind Eye Hospitals & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology 1, Anna Nagar, Madurai - 625020, Tamil Nadu, India
Phone : 0452 - 4356100

Aravind Eye Hospital & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai

Aravind Eye HospitalMadurai was founded in 1976 by Dr. G. Venkataswamy with the mission to eliminate needless blindness. During the year 2015 -16, the Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai was able to extend its services to 1,141,604 outpatients and provide 148,002 sight restoring surgical or laser procedures through its main hospital and 3 community eye centres, 25 vision centres and through outreach camps in the rural areas.

Aravind’s patient care services cater to the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and also the Union Territory of Pondicherry serving a population of 100 million. The hospital continues to be financially self-sustainable only through earned revenues from patient care. This has been possible by ensuring high efficiency, meticulous planning and proper use of resources. Due to the unique fee system and effective management, Aravind is able to provide free eye care to 55% of its patients from the revenue generated from 45% paying patients.

For ensuring excellent quality service to its patients, Aravind Eye Hospital Madurai has set up Centres of Excellence in the areas of speciality eye care services in Retina, cataract, glaucoma, paediatric Ophthalmology, cornea service, Neuro Ophthalmology, uveitis service, orbit and ocular oncology services and vision rehabilitation services.

To ensure patient centered care and to clear the backlog due to corneal disorders, Aravind has set up in association with International Rotary Club, the Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank – registered under Societies Act, functioning in Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai from 1998. The Eye Bank at Madurai has so far collected 27,689 donor eyes and 11,946 sight restoring corneal surgeries have been performed.

Education & Training:

Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmology was started in the year 1982 in affiliation with Madurai Kamaraj University and was later affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University from the year 1989. The Postgraduate Degree course – M.S. in Ophthalmology was started in the year 1993 in affiliation with Dr.MGR Medical University. The total number of seats for M.S. Ophthalmology course is 12 seats per year and Diploma in Ophthalmology course is 8 seats per year. Both the courses are recognized by Medical Council of India, New Delhi. Till date 139 candidates have been awarded MS Ophthalmology degree & 239 candidates have been awarded Diploma in Ophthalmology.

In 2019, The Medical Council of India increased the number of M.S., in Ophthalmology seats from 12 to 20 seats in lieu of surrender of concerned 8 seats of diploma in Ophthalmology course sanctioned by Medical Council of India. Paramedical course in “Diploma in Optometry Technology” is also conducted in affiliation with Dr.MGR Medical University with a sanctioned strength of 20 students per year.

Collaborations:

Aravind eye hospital has been designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres, which is an international recognition for the widespread services done to the poor and the downtrodden. Aravind also collaborates with leading eye institutes like Johns Hopkins, Wilmer Eye Institute, University of San Francisco, Mass Eye and ear university, Harvard medical school and University of Iowa around the world for education, training and research including conduct of grand rounds and journal discussions through teleconference.

Aravind holds long term collaboration with leading institutions in India and abroad. To name a few:
  • Proctor Foundation,University of California, San Francisco
  • John Hopkins university, Baltimore
  • International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, London
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London
  • Indian Institute Technology, Chennai,
  • Indian Institute of management, Bangalore
  • Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
  • Dept of science & technology
As a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, leading ophthalmology universities and Business Management Schools in India and abroad are in association with Aravind Eye Hospital Madurai for students exchange program. This helps to exchange and update the “best practices” in ophthalmology and management, clinical trials, population based surveys, outreach research, health systems research etc. Aravind actively participates in national and international forums in design of service delivery and developing policies as well as policy advocacy related to delivery of eye care.

Research and Publications:

The research activities at Aravind Eye Hospital reflect Aravind’s commitment to finding new ways to reduce the burden of blindness. The combination of high clinical load and access to a large network of eye hospitals provide ideal opportunities for conducting clinical, basic and population based epidemiological studies and social and health system research. The major current research areas are Age related cataract , Age related macular degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Primary open angle glaucoma, Etiology and basic mechanism of infection related diseases, Uveitis –Leptospiral and trematode induced uveitis, ROP and fungal keratitis. Indo-Us collaborative research projects such as Mycotic ulcer treatment trial (MUTT), Steroid corneal ulcer treatment trial (SCUT), and First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid- sparing Treatment (FAST) Uveitis Pilot Trial are the present major project being conducted at Aravind. Apart from the above, international drug trial are also conducted with the approval of DCGI. Recent EMA inspection successfully cleared the centre and appreciated the hospital for its best patient care.

Publications:

In last five years our clinicians have published nearly 150 peer reviewed journal articles.

Institutional Awards:

Aravind’s efforts have been globally acknowledged. Harvard Business School published a case study in 1993 and it continues to be actively used even today. A few years ago, Aravind was also listed amongst the 50 most innovative companies in the world by the magazine Fast Co. Aravind Eye Hospital also won the Champalimaud Award for eye care services, the Gates Award for Global Health and the Conrad Hilton Humanitarian award. Aravind has been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre since 1984.

Individual Awards received from The Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University

Dr.G.Natchiar, Emeritus HR Director and Professor of Ophthalmology has been conferred Doctor of Science Award in the year 2010.

Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Professor of Ophthalmology has been awarded Best Doctor Award in 2012.

Dr. Karthik Srinivasan, Asst.Prof. of Ophthalmology has received Young Students Achieve Award in 2012.

Dr. Deeba Ishrath has received Rank Certificate (First Rank among 34 candidates) during her Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmology course in September 2010.