Aravind established the first Vitreo-Retina (VR) Clinic in India in 1976. It is one of the major tertiary care eye hospitals receiving referral cases from all over India. The clinic has state-of-the-art equipment for investigation and treatment of various Vitreo retinal diseases. Aravind centres at Madurai, Chennai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Pondicherry, Salem and Chennai offer this service.

The clinics are well equipped with trained doctors and modern technology to diagnose and treat a multitude of vitreo retinal conditions. Treatment includes both medical and surgical interventions.

State-of-the-art equipment for investigation and diagnosis of various Vitreo retinal diseases include:

  • Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA) and Indocynanine Green Angiography (ICGA)
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Ultrasonography
  • Ultrasound Bio Microscopy (UBM)
  • Electroretinogram (ERG)including Multifocal (mfERG), Visual Evoked Potential (VEP), Electro Oculo Graphy (EOG)

The Vitreo-Retina clinics offer medical management for various retinal conditions like Diabetic Retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion (CRVO & BRVO), Arterial occlusion (CRAO), Central serous retinopathy (CSR), Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) etc., The clinics are equipped with retinal lasers (Green laser – Double frequency YAG) with slit-lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy delivery for treatment of these retinal conditions.  In addition, various intravitreal injections of Anti-VEGF drugs and steroids are used to treat macular edema as well as choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM). Specialised lasers like trans pupillary thermotherapy (TTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are also available.

The Vitreo-Retina clinics offer electrodiagnosis with genetic analysis support for retinal degenerations, along with guidance and referral for rehabilitation centres.

The Vitreo-Retina clinics are involved in screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) at base clinics as well as NICUs in other hospitals. Various paediatric retinal conditions like FEVR, PFV, tumors etc are also treated regulalry. Aravind-Coimbatore has a dedicated paediatric retina clinic dealing with these conditions, while other centers have them as an integrated part of VR clinics.

The Vitreo-Retina clinics have operating theatres equipped with state-of-the-art vitrectomy machines, lasers and microscopes with posterior visualisation systems. Complex vitreo-retinal surgeries for repair of retinal detachment, diabetic tractional detachment, vitreous haemorrhage, macular holes and epiretinal membranes are routinely performed. Surgeries to manage intra-ocular foreign bodies and treatment of endophthalmitis are also routinely done.

The department is involved in various research activities both basic as well as clinical. Clinical trials for new drugs are also conducted in the department.

On-going research:

  • Automated detection algorithm assisted read  study – Vision centres
  • An extension study to evaluate the long term efficacy and safety of Ranibizumab compared with laser therapy for the treatment of infants born prematurely with retinopathy of prematurity
  • Statistical modelling and risk assessment of type 2 diabetes complications in india
  • Validation of neuropupillary index (npi) measured by automated Neuroptics PLR-3000 pupillometer in diagnosing ocular pathologies in south Indian population
  • Structured post-marketing surveillance to collect the safety data of intravitreal aflibercept injection (IVT-AFL) in patients of wet age-related macular degeneration during real world clinical practice
  • ROP Tele screening
  • Optos Vs Clarus with Pupillometry
  • A phase III randomisd, 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
  • A two –year, two –arm, randomised, double-masked, multicentre, phase III study assessing the efficacy and safety of brolucizumab versus aflibercept in adult patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema
  • Translating research into clinical and community practice: a multi-state, multi-centre statistical modelling of risk-based stratified and personalised screening for complications of diabetes in India
  • Conventional versus Inverted Flap Technique for large macular holes: A Prospective randomised control trial
  • Effect of pachychoroid features on visual and functional outcomes in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
  • Routine fundus photography for screening of posterior segment disease in patients visiting vision centres
  • Prevalence and morphological characteristics of dome shaped macula in myopic eyes on enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography
  • Subjective High-risk patient counselling Randomisation Project
  • A study on the differential expression of Piwiinteracting RNAs (piRNA) and altered Piwi-like protein interactions in Diabetic Retinopathy

Major Publications

Aravind’s Vitreo Retina Clinic started Fellowship programmes as early in in 1985, probably the first in India to offer this training.

Long Term Ophthalmology Fellowship

Fellowship in Retina-Vitreous 

Available at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Pondicherry, Chennai, Tirupati, Salem

Fellowship in Surgical Paediatric Retina Fellowship

Available at Aravind Eye Hospital in Coimbatore

Short Term Clinical Courses

Lasers in Diabetic Retinopathy 

Available at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Pondicherry

Vitrectomy (Virtual)

Available at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Coimbatore

Management of Retinopathy of Prematurity & Paediatric Retinal Disorders 

Available at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Coimbatore

Short Term Paramedical Courses

Certificate Course in Fundus Fluorescein Angiography and Ultrasonography

Available at Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai

Tele-Screening in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Available at Aravind Eye Hospital in Coimbatore