Chapter Affiliate updates

2023 ARVO-India Annual Meeting

On July 29-30, the Indian Eye Research Group (ARVO-India) hosted its 29th annual meeting at Aravind Medical Research Foundation (Madurai, India) under the theme, Innovations in Eye Health: Technology to Translation.

The 220 participants included scientists (academic and industry), young researchers, clinical fellows and optometrists from all over the country. The meeting incorporated seven scientific sessions that covered various ocular segments and diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, keratoconus and ocular infections. Talks focused on translational research, including gene therapy and stem cell therapy for retinal diseases/ corneal dystrophies. The importance of artificial intelligence in ocular disease diagnosis was discussed also in detail, along with a special discussion on “Emerging Areas of Indian Eye Research — Future Perspective” to help attendees in setting up goals for future research.

Oration lectures were presented by eminent scientists in the frontier areas of research:

• The Bireswar Chakrabarti Oration by Colin Willoughby, FRCOphth, MD (Ulster University, Coleraine, UK) — Reverse engineering glaucoma: A path to improving glaucoma treatment

• The D Balasubramanian Oration by Subhabrata Chakrabarti, PhD (LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India) — Molecular dissections of a blinding disease in children through evolving omics in the sands of time

• The SS Badrinath Oration by V. Mohan, MD, PhD, DSc (Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, India) — Making India diabetes complications free: Hype or reality?

There were six invited talks, 18 free papers, 123 posters and two industry talks. Two best presentation awards were given in both the posters and free papers categories. Eleven young trainees/clinical fellows also received travel support. In addition, attendees were able to participate in the popular quiz program, I-Quest, where prizes were awarded to the winner and runner-up.

To learn more about the Indian Eye Research Group, visit the ARVO-India webpage.