LVPEI fellow creates history in Nigeria!
From Vanguard Online Edition, Saturday 27, 2008. Also in Guardian and Punch (Nigeria)
UCH performs feat in eye transplant 
Thirty-six years after the management of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan performed a major operation in cornea (eye) transplant, the institution has broken the jinx as it successfully transplanted the damaged cornea of four patients. 
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LVPEI at the IAPB 8th General Assembly, Buenos Aires
More than 750 people committed to blindness prevention from different parts of the globe had the opportunity to become acquainted with LVPEI's work in community eye health, research and training, during the 8th General Assembly of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, at Buenos Aires, Argentina. The LVPEI display in the Exhibits area of the Assembly generated much interest, as did the presentations and posters by LVPEI faculty. 
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Delegations from Canada and Australia Visit LVPEI
Collaboration has always been a feature of research at LVPEI; with the nature of our research becoming more interdisciplinary, our focus on addressing complex problems of causation and treatment of disease, the range and potential of international collaborations has expanded. Following the acceptance of a bilateral Indo-Canada proposal that called for industry-academy collaboration on either side, a Canadian delegation that included the High Commissioner designate, Mr Joseph Caron and the Canadian Deputy Minister of International Trade, Ms Marie Lucie Morin, visited LVPEI on September 9, 2008, and met with scientists from the stem cell group and others.
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New laser for LVPEI
L V Prasad Eye Institute has acquired the PASCAL® (Pattern Scan Laser) photocoagulator — an advanced precision scanning laser system to treat retinal diseases using a single spot or a predetermined pattern array. 
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Pushkarlalji Tibrewala Public Lecture 2008
L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, and the O P Tibrewala Foundation held the Late Pushkarlalji Tibrewala Public Lecture 2008 and Award on August 25, 2008. The lecture was held to commemorate the eye donation fortnight that began on August 23, 2008. The guest speaker was Dr M Srinivasan, Director and Head of Cornea Services at the Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, and president of the Eye Bank Association of India.
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Launch of Eye Health Management course 
The restructured Diploma in Eye Health Management (DEHM) course was formally launched on August 1, 2008, at the Bausch and Lomb School of Optometry, Kismatpur campus. The Guest of Honour for the program was Prof Ram Mohan Rao, Dean, Indian School of Business, who presented certificates to the outgoing batch of management trainees and those completing the 1-year community eye health management course.
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Miriam Hyman Children's Eye Care Centre inaugurated 
When young Miriam Hyman passed away tragically in the London terrorist bombings on July 7, 2005, her family was devastated. She was only 32. Her parents John and Mavis and elder sister Esther could have slipped into a depression. But they resolved to channel their grief in a constructive way and find positive ways to remember her.
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In Esther's words: See also http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7492848.stm
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6th anniversary of Karamchedu satellite centre 
Venkat Lakshmi Eye Centre, the third satellite centre of LVPEI, celebrated its sixth anniversary on June 7, 2008. Since its inception, the centre has screened around 50,000 outpatients and performed more than 7000 surgeries, 70% of them free of cost.
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3rd anniversary of Adilabad satellite centre  
Seshanna Chennawar Eye Centre, the fourth satellite centre of LVPEI, celebrated its third anniversary on June 9, 2008. Since its inception, the centre has screened over 26,000 outpatients and performed more than 3600 surgeries, 70% of them free of cost.
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Dr Abdul Kalam at LVPEI, Bhubaneswar
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, visited L V Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, on May 9, 2008 to deliver the Foundation Day lecture. Major donors of LVPEI were also felicitated at the program. Dr Kalam made a tour of the institute in an open jeep and saw the facilities and services available. He visited the banyan tree, which he had planted at the inauguration of LVPEI Bhubaneswar in July 2006. 
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Aesthetics Clinic launched at LVPEI
LVPEI, Hyderabad, launched its Aesthetics and Facial Plastic Surgery Services by inaugurating the Aesthetics Clinic on March 30, 2008. The first such comprehensive cosmetic clinic to be established in an eye institute in India, the Aesthetics Clinic is equipped with an exclusive evaluation suite with skin analyser, professional digital
photography, Botox and filler injection facility, skin lasers, and a surgical suite for facial cosmetic procedures including liposuction, fat transfer, and fat cryopreservation.
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4 new Vision Centres for Markapuram 
In March 2008, four new Vision Centres linked to the Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Eye Centre (SSREC) in Markapuram, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, were inaugurated. These are Darshi (63 km from the Markapuram secondary eye care Service Centre), Kurichedu (82 km), Podili (44 km) and Cumbham (28 km). Funding support for the 4 Vision Centres was provided by the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc., New York, USA. 

For 3 of the 4 Vision Centres (except Kurichedu) local community members donated space for setting up the facility. For each VC's inauguration, the donors as well as the local panchayat representatives were also present. A meeting with the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) was organized and possibilities of a collaborative effort explored, to ensure optimum utilization of the Vision Centres by the community. 
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2 new Vision Centres for Adilabad
Two new Vision Centres at Talamadugu and Gudihathnur, linked to the Seshanna Chennawar Eye Centre (SCEC) in Adilabad, were launched on March 28, 2008. Both the Vision Centres are located 20 km from the secondary eye care Service Centre, SCEC. The capital cost of the centres was borne by the Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC) of Salt Lake City, USA, taking the total number of Vision Centres set up with their support to seven.

Mr Lawrence Lyerly and Ms Toni Lyerly, Humanitarian Service Volunteers from LDS Charities, were present at the inauguration. They interacted with the local supporters who had donated rent-free spaces for the centres and appreciated the active participation of the community in this humanitarian work. They were especially impressed by the way the opening ceremony was conducted - no politicians, no long speeches. After the formal inauguration Mr. Baburao gave a brief description about the objectives of the Vision Centres and the services available for the local people. Screening of patients started immediately.
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Friends of drushti daan meet 
L V Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, in partnership with drushti daan has been managing the 'Community Eye Bank - drushti daan' since April 2007 on its campus. The Governor of Orissa Mr Murali C Bhandare visited LVPEI Bhubaneswar on March 5, 2008, to commemorate the day as 'the friends of drushti daan.' Mr Tuhin K Pandey, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Orissa, and Prof Paul J Dubord, Founder, Eyesight International, were the guests of honour. Also present were Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Chairman, LVPEI group; Dr Krishna Charan Padhy, president, drushti daan; delegates from Sight & Life, USA, and the media. The Governor released a souvenir, visited the eye bank and took an eye donation pledge. Lauding the efforts of LVPEI Bhubaneswar, he appealed to the people to pledge their eyes to combat corneal blindness. He presented a certificate to Mr Niladri Das, eye bank technician, for his commendable work. 
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World Glaucoma Day & Glaucoma Meet 
The World Glaucoma Association observed World Glaucoma Day on 6th March 2008 and LVPEI observed the day across its three campuses - Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam. Glaucoma patients, their relatives and experts in the field attended a meeting at the auditorium of each campus, with all the auditoriums being linked through videoconferencing. The objective was to increase awareness of glaucoma and form a glaucoma support group for patients. 

Coinciding with World Glaucoma Day, a two-day workshop Glaucoma Update was organized from March 8-9, 2008, with the three LVPEI campuses linked through videoconferencing. Talks were delivered by the Institute and invited faculty, followed by interaction among the delegates and faculty. Dr B L Harsha and Dr Sanghamitra Dash delivered lectures and facilitated the proceeding from LVPEI Bhubaneswar. 



Krupajal Sanman-2008 to Dr Das
The Krupajal group of institutions conferred the Krupajal Sanman-2008 on Dr Taraprasad Das at the annual day program of Krupajal Engineering College on 2nd March 2008. The Governor of Orissa presented him with a memento, citation and shawl for distinguished achievement in ophthalmology and outstanding contribution to the nation and the state of Orissa in the field of medical science and social service.
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Champalimaud Translational Research Centre inaugurated
The Champalimaud Translational Centre of Eye Research (C-TRACER) was inaugurated at LVPEI, Hyderabad, on January 30, 2008, by Smt. Purandareshwari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. C-TRACER, a world-class translational research facility devoted to the analysis, management and treatment of selected eye disorders, will enhance the vision research program of LVPEI's Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre. It has been set up in partnership with the Antonio Champalimaud Foundation of Portugal.

A seminar on translational research was held to mark the event, with Professor N K Ganguly, UNESCO Centre for Translational Research and Training, New Delhi, delivering the First Champalimaud Lecture on 'Translational Research Scenario and Opportunities in India'. The seminar provided an opportunity for presentations on different aspects and processes of translational research. Prof Robert Folberg of the University of Illinois Chicago Campus, Chicago, USA, explained how technology could be used to maximize the impact of distance education in ophthalmology. Prof Jost Jonas from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, presented the results and policy implications of the Beijing Eye Study, while Dr Miguel Castelo-Branco from Coimbra, Portugal, described a model of genotype-phenotype correlations in ocular disease. Prof Brien Holden, CEO, Institute of Eye Research, Australia detailed the progress of translational research in the area of refractive error. Chitra Kannabiran, Geeta Vemuganti and Virender Sangwan described the work done at LVPEI in molecular genetics and stem cells.
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4 new Vision Centres in Adilabad
During the quarter ICARE - LVPEI opened 4 new Vision Centres around Seshanna Chennawar Eye Centre, Adilabad, bringing the number of Vision Centres in Adilabad district to 16, with a total of 37 Vision Centres (VC) across Andhra Pradesh. Each VC covers a population of 50,000 - 100,000, providing primary eye care in underserved areas. This set of VCs is supported by the Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC), USA.
The four Vision Centres were inaugurated at Bela (November 14th), Narnoor (November 21st), Jannaram (December 18th) and Jainoor (December 27th) of Adilabad district. The population of these areas has a significant number of tribals, such as Gonds, Kolams and Andhs (Census 2001: 25 - 35%). The mandal and village presidents of the four locations helped mobilize rent-free buildings for the Vision Centres - they included Mr P Prabhakar Rao, Bela; Mr Gajanand Nayak, Narnoor; Mr Vishwambhar, Zilla Parishad
Territorial Constituency; and Mr Dharmaraju, Jainoor; with support from Mr Ramesh Rathod, Zilla Parishad Chairman of Adilabad district, and Mr Kishan Rao, District Forest Officer, Jannaram Division. Larry and Toni Lyerly, humanitarian volunteers and representatives from The Indian Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, USA, attended the inaugurals at Bela and Narnoor. After each inaugural, public meetings were organized in all the four Vision Centre locations, which were highlighted
in the local media. Vision technicians began screening patients at each VC the same day.



Cutting Edge 2007
Cutting Edge 2007, the joint annual meeting of the Oculoplastics Association of India (OPAI) and the Asia Pacific Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (APSOPRS) was held at Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, December 13-16, 2007. L V Prasad Eye Institute was the official host for the event.

This is the first Asia Pacific OPRS meeting held in India, and was honored with the official participation of every major Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Society including the ASOPRS (American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery), ESOPRS (European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery), BOPSS (British Oculoplastic Surgery Society), and ISOO (International Society of Ocular Oncology). 
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The Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Eye Centre, Markapur
January 3, 2008
Heralding in the new year the Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Eye Centre at Markapur was inaugurated at a colourful well-attended ceremony. Chief guest Smt Daggubati Purandeswari, Honorable Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Government of India, cut the ribbon. She was accompanied by Mr K P Konda Reddy, MLA, Markapur; Mr Srinivas Reddy, MLA, Kambam; Mr G V Sheshu, MLC, Markapur; and Ms Kantham Arunamma, Ongole Zilla Parishad Chairperson. The special guest was Mr Sreekanth Ravi who was proud to launch the Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Eye Health Initiative in Prakasam district.

The new building on the edge of Markapur is a beacon to all those in need of eye care - sparkling white against a rather barren landscape on the one side and the town of Markapur on the other. Flowers adorned the entrance, giving the whole building a very festive look.

Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Chairman, LVPEI, took the Minister and her entourage around the facility. Then the scene shifted to the meeting venue adorned with flowers under a colourful shamiana. Dr Rao outlined LVPEI's plans for the eye centre in Markapur, encouraging the huge gathering to make use of the facility. He spoke of the initiatives taken by the Institute, in collaboration with the district health administration, for the detection of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. He was grateful to Mr Sreekanth Ravi and his brother Sudhakar for their support that made this possible. Smt Purandeswari and Mr Konda Reddy also spoke on the occasion. 

Mr Sreekanth Ravi said he was proud to be associated with this initiative in his home district. Recalling his first meeting with Dr Rao, he said the Ravi brothers' support for LVPEI had given the family tremendous satisfaction, whether it was for establishing the stem cell laboratory or the outpatient facility at LVPEI, Hyderabad. This new eye health initiative drew thunderous applause from the townspeople, who honored Mr Sreekanth Ravi by presenting him with shawls. Mr Ravi also planted a sapling. 
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EMPI - Indian Express Indian Innovation Awards 2006 
The Honorable Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, gave away the EMPI-Indian Express Indian Innovation Awards 2006 at a glittering ceremony on December 22, 2007, at the Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Chairman, LVPEI, received the spectacular Gold Trophy for and on behalf of L V Prasad Eye Institute. The citation read "In recognition of the institution's innovative approach to providing a sustainable, comprehensive rehabilitation and community health eye-care to communities in remote as well as in urban areas. The system covers primary eye care through trained local 'vision guardians' and 'vision centres' in remote areas, networked for advanced tertiary care, to a world class cutting edge research eye care centre of excellence."
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Melbourne University honors Dr G N Rao
Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Chairman, L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), was honored with a Doctor of Medicine (honoris causa), from the University of Melbourne on December 8, 2007. Dr Rao is the founder of LVPEI. He was nominated for the honorary award by the Centre for Eye Research Australia, in recognition of his inspirational work that is helping to transform global efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness. 
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