News
Dr. T. S. Surendran Releases Souvenir of SWAN
On May 21, Dr. T. S. Surendran, Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya, released a souvenir celebrating the contributions of the members of the Sankara Nethralaya Women’s Auxiliary (SWAN). This special book reflects on SWAN’s significant role in the growth and success of Sankara Nethralaya over the years.
The first copy of the book was handed over to Dr. Girish Shiva Rao by Dr. T. S. Surendran, while SWAN’s Trustee Mrs. Surekha Mehta received the second copy.
The souvenir highlights the tireless efforts of SWAN members and provides an overview of the hospital’s history and achievements. It includes detailed information about the state-of-the-art facilities available at Sankara Nethralaya, highlighting the institution’s commitment to excellence in eye care.
A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the life and legacy of Dr. S.S. Badrinath, the founder of Sankara Nethralaya, whose vision and dedication have been pivotal in shaping the institution. Through personal stories and anecdotes, the souvenir also narrates Dr. Badrinath’s contributions and the enduring impact of his work.
Inauguration of Sankara Nethralaya’s Refractive Surgery Suite in JKCN Complex
In a momentous event, Sankara Nethralaya proudly inaugurated a cutting-edge refractive surgery suite in the AS block of JKCN Complex on October 25, 2023. The ceremony brought together a distinguished assembly of key figures, led by the institution’s top leadership and prominent members of the medical community.
Key Attendees
The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of Lasik staff along with some of the top associates of Sankara Nethralaya, including:
Dr. TS Surendran – Chairman & Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology
Dr. Girish Shiva Rao – President and Executive Medical Director
Dr. Nirmala Subramaniam – Emeritus Professor, Ophthalmology – Oculoplasty
Dr. Prema Padmanabhan – Distinguished Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology – Cornea
Dr. L Vijaya – Distinguished Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology – Glaucoma
Dr. Rama Rajagopal – Director, Ophthalmology – Cornea
Dr. Chetan Rao – Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology – Vitreo Retinal
Dr. Iyer Geetha Krishnan – Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology – Cornea
Dr. Sudhir RR – Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology – Cornea
Dr. Pramod S Bhende – Director, Ophthalmology – Vitreo Retinal
Mr. Kannan Narayanan – Hon. Treasurer
Ms. Banumati Ramkrishnan – Treasurer, SN USA
Inauguration Ceremony
The event kicked off with a solemn and traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. Following the lamp-lighting, a sacred pooja ceremony was performed, invoking divine blessings to ensure the success and prosperity of the newly inaugurated refractive surgery suite. Outfitted with the latest technological advancements, the new surgical suite solidifies Sankara Nethralaya’s position as a leader in the field of eye care.
Sankara Nethralaya hosts the 5th Annual Retina Summit 2023
The 5th Annual Retina Summit 2023 was held on 30th June and 1st July at the Taj Coromandel. The theme focused on “Macular Surgery.” This year’s Retina Summit was special as it was conducted after a hiatus of three years.
The eyes are a window to the universe, and the power to see this universe is concentrated in a small specialized central area of the retina called as the Macula. Several maladies that affect this macula can instantly rob the vision resulting in central blindness. Thus, it is extremely important to restore and repair the macular area.
Macular surgery is among the most intricate, delicate and skillful surgery. It requires training, hard work and concentration to perform these surgeries. Surgery for a macular hole is the most commonly performed surgery among the various macular surgeries. With the advances in techniques, the success rate of this surgery has improved to nearly 98%. A patient who has lost central vision due to a macular hole can have a very good chance of recovering full vision with this surgery. Other macular surgeries are removal of epiretinal membrane, surgery for macular schisis associated with high myopia, etc.
The Retina Summit was inaugurated on Friday, 30th June 2023 at the Hotel Taj Coromandel. Chief guests for the function, Shri N Ram, Head of The Hindu Group and Shri N Kumar, Vice Chairman of the Sanmar Group lit the lamp and commented on several sociological insights in connection with healthcare sector and gave their unique perspectives. This was followed by a musical performance by ‘Madhan’s Band” led by Sri Madhan Prakash, and a Gala dinner.
The Retina Summit 2023 brought together the niche circle of vitreoretinal specialists who shared their experiences and insights to enrich the knowledge of the participants. The sessions were an interactive blend of keynote talks, panel discussions, case presentations and videos. Many well-known and preeminent national and international experts, along with Sankara Nethralaya’s in-house faculty contributed to make it a collaborative and enjoyable experience.
Sankara Nethralaya has always been at the forefront of innovation, constantly questioning the conventional and pushing boundaries to develop newer insights. This 5th Retina Summit conference is the only unique conference being held in a highly specialized niche field of macular surgery. It stands testament to Sankara Nethralaya’s endeavor to bring together renowned experts both national and international who will pave the way for innovations, and collaborations. This is also a great opportunity for the young generation of Retinal surgeons in the country to learn special tips and tricks from the experts in the field.
The Retina Summit brought together 250 delegates from all corners of India and international delegates from Kenya, Singapore, etc.
Press Coverage:
Fifth retina summit inaugurated – Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/fifth-retina-summit-inaugurated/articleshow/101407811.cms
Doctors and journalists must work to dispel medical misinformation, says N. Ram – The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/doctors-and-journalists-must-work-to-dispel-medical-misinformation/article67028137.ece
Tamil Press coverage of Retina Summit held on 30th June and 1st July 2023.at Taj Coromandel
http://omlog.org/header/retina-summit-2023-media-news.pdf
Dr. Amrutha Mahalakshmi Endowment Award established for Best Cornea Fellow
On 30th July 2022, the very first Dr. Amrutha Mahalakshmi Endowment Award for Best Cornea Fellow in memory of Late Dr. Amrutha Mahalakshmi was instituted by the CJ Shah Department of Cornea Services on her 33rd birth anniversary. The budding ophthalmologist had just completed her fellowship in the CJ Shah Department of Cornea Services when tragedy struck.
The family of Dr. Amrutha magnanimously came forward to name an award in their daughter’s name within the Cornea department. The small ceremony – held at A. Sivasilam block, JKCN – was compered by Dr. Meena Lakshmipathy, Senior Consultant. Dr. Amrutha’s parents – Mr. & Mrs. Anandan, Dr. Suryaprakash (Vishnu Eye Clinic), Dr. Murali, and her husband, Mr. Teja were present on the occasion.
Dr. Girish S. Rao, President, Dr. T. S. Surendran, Vice Chairman & Director, Dept. of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Dr. Prema Padmanabhan, Distinguished Senior Consultant, Dr. Rama Rajagopal, Director, Dr. Radhika N., Deputy Director, Dept. of Cornea Services, and all consultants were present to pay homage to their beloved colleague. Dr. Girish S. Rao presented Mr. and Mrs. Anandan with a bouquet, and Dr Pramod Bhende presented Dr. Amrutha’s husband with a memento.
Dr. Rama Rajagopal introduced the award and recollected Dr. Amrutha’s legacy. The 6 fellows competing for the award were all excellent and the decision to choose the winner was a tough one, said Dr. Rama.
Dr. Prema Padmanabhan came on stage and thanked the parents for helping to set up the award and praised the performance of all 6 fellows. Dr. Radhika N., recollected that Dr. Amrutha was soft-spoken and super confident though she was petite and said she was one of best fellows in the department. Dr. Geetha Iyer, Dr. Niveditha Narayanan, and Dr. Meena Lakshmipathy too spoke fondly of the late fellow and shared their memories of the young ophthalmologist.
Her family shared memories of their beloved daughter and niece. Dr. R. Surya Prakash, her uncle, shared memories of his niece, remembering her dedication and hard working spirit. Mr. Teja also thanked everyone for sharing their thoughts of his wife.
Dr. T. S. Surendran and Dr. Girish S. Rao expressed their thanks to the family of the late Dr. Amrutha.
The awards were then distributed.
Dr.Sunita Pandey received the “Dr. Amrutha Mahalakshmi Endowment Award” for the Best Outgoing Fellow from Mr. and Mrs. Anandan, and Dr. Prema Padmanabhan. Dr. Swetha Ravichandran won “The Outstanding Fellow” award presented by Dr. Rama Rajagopal and Dr. Radhika N.
The other candidates received their fellowship completion awards in this ceremony:
Dr. Nimisha Nagpal received her award from Dr. Bhaskar Srinivasan and Dr. Mamta Agarwal.
Dr. Nikhil Navneet received the award from Dr. Geetha Iyer and Dr. Niveditha Narayanan.
Dr. Varsha Bhambhani received the award from Dr. Meena Lakshmipathy and Dr. Shweta S Agarwal.
Dr. Karan Nathani who was on duty at Kolkata, was also to receive this award.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Shweta Agarwal.
Eye hospital likely at Sri City SEZ
Sullurpet: Sankara Nethralaya Hospital of Tamil Nadu is planning to establish a modern eye hospital in Sri City SEZ in Nellore district, informed the SEZ Managing Director Ravindra Sannareddy. The medical team of Sankara Nethralaya visited Sri City on Saturday and inspected the hospital with modern facilities here and examined the possibilities of establishing the […]
Welfare aid for leprosy afflicted
For the 24th consecutive year, Sri Ramakrishna Mutt Charitable Dispensary and Diagnostic Centre organised a special health camp for leprosy-afflicted persons on Saturday. The centre, which works for the benefit of people from economically weaker sections, started its rehabilitation programmes for leprosy -afflicted persons in the year 1988. Till date, around 1,098 patients have been […]
Sankara Nethralaya Academy launches fresh courses in ‘Allied Health Sciences’
The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (SNA) in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University has launched allied health science courses for this academic year. The courses offered are diploma in ophthalmic nursing assistant, diploma in operation theatre and anaesthesia technology and B.Sc in medical laboratory technology. Read more…
Elite School of Optometry breaks the language barrier in vision screening!
Vision chart in Tamil goes to masses Sankara Nethralaya, which pioneered the scientific self-testing visual acuity chart in Tamil, is now set to take the tool to various places across the State. The Tamil log MAR (logarithmic minimal angle resolution) chart was put together by a team at Nethralaya’s Elite School of Optometry (ESO) after […]
An interesting glimpse of Dr SS.Badrinath’s life draws inspiring comments from readers of ‘The Hindu’
‘He walked 200 miles to be operated by me’ In an undistinguishable Spartan office in the vast citadel of eye care, outside whose gates share autos are constantly dropping off elderly couples headed to the kannu aspathri (eye hospital), and whose stone parapets and steel chairs continue to bear the gratitude of several patients, sits […]