The Alumni ensemble at Sankara Nethralaya symbolizes a unique feature unlike other meets, for it encompasses a gathering for a scientific know- how exchange, the opening statement by Dr. Mohan Rajan, Secretary, Sankara Nethralaya  Alumni Association captured the spirit of the 27th Sankara Nethralaya Alumni meet on 19th July 2016. Extending his warm welcome to the more than 190 enthusiastic participants from across the country and the world, renowned eye surgeon and CEO of  Rajan Eye Care expressed his deep thanks to Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas, Director of Uvea and Ocular Pathology for his tremendous support for the event through the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, expressing a high word of praise for his academic excellence he remarked that he had brought great pride to his mentor by surpassing him in the number of international publications and journal contributions. Dr Jyotirmay Biswas dedicated the day’s proceedings in memory of  Dr. Surbhit Choudhry, Director, Eye Health Centre, Noida, a Vitreo Retinal expert groomed by Sankara Nethralaya, recalling his glorious career and versatile personality.

The day’s sessions, themed  “Debates and Discussions in Ophthalmology” started on a vibrant note with discussions and presentations on challenging topics like “Globe Rupture precedence over orbital fracture”, “Vitrectomy – therapeutic role in Uveitis disease control”, “Dry Eyes and artificial tears”, “Diabetic macular edema  and its treatment”  by a host of specialists on a platform for knowledge transfer.

Delivering the SN Alumni Oration Dr. Anita Agarwal, Professor of ophthalmology at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, the proud author of the Fifth Edition of the Gass Atlas of Macular Disease and recipient of 2014 J. Donald M. Gass Medal for outstanding contributions in understanding Macular diseases awarded by the Macula Society and the 2015 Optic (UK) Lecture Medal awarded by the Royal college of Ophthalmology UK,  paid rich encomiums to her mentor Dr Prof J Donald M Gass –  through a talk ‘A Genius and traversal through his journey’. She recalled how the genius immaculately and meticulously handcrafted each diagnosis by preparing sketches prior to the advent of high end ophthalmic equipments, which captured miniscule information. She remarked that her mentor was one amongst the ten most influential ophthalmologists’ of the century and co-authoring landmark research papers with him on the genetics of macular degeneration was a learning curve in her career.

Congratulating Dr. Anita Agarwal on the stupendous journey of the genius, Dr SS Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus hailed praises on the consultants for the RETINA summit, embracing the theme “Guru Dhevo Bhava”. He used the platform to invite all the Alumni to the forthcoming music concerts in the USA being performed in memory of the legendary music icon Dr. M S Subbulakshmi, whose charity shows raised huge funds for Sankara Nethralaya.

The day’s witnessed interesting talks by members participating in the “Nataraja Pillai free paper session”, the prize for the best talk was bagged by Dr Mohamed Shahid Alam, Associate Consultant, Department of Oculoplasty, Sankara Nethralaya for his exciting lecture on “3-D ocular prosthesis fabrication”. The event also witnessed felicitation to Dr. D. Ramamurthy, AIOS President and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Mohan Rajan.