The Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute at the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) has reached a remarkable achievement, performing over 50,000 corneal transplants—the highest number recorded by any eye care institution worldwide. This milestone solidifies LVPEI’s position as a leader in high-volume cornea care globally. To commemorate this achievement, the institute hosted a celebratory event at its Dr. Kallam Anji Reddy Campus.
In India, corneal opacities are a significant contributor to visual impairment, particularly among those aged 50 and older. Nearly 2% of the adult population is blind, and about 13% are visually impaired. Infections, trauma, or other damages can cause the cornea to become opaque, necessitating a corneal transplant where the damaged cornea is replaced with donor tissue.
The success of this initiative is attributed to a dedicated team of surgeons and allied health professionals, along with the generosity of numerous supporters worldwide. Crucially, the achievement also reflects the kindness of cornea donor families who made the vital decision to donate their loved ones’ tissue.
Speaking at the event via video link, Shri Venkaiah Naidu congratulated LVPEI on reaching the milestone of 50,000 corneal transplants. He remarked that this accomplishment makes LVPEI the only institute in the world to achieve such a feat. “Bharat as a nation is proud of this extraordinary accomplishment,” he stated. Naidu also shared his personal experience as an early beneficiary of a corneal transplant, emphasizing the challenges faced due to the limited availability of corneal tissues at that time. He praised LVPEI for transforming the landscape of corneal transplants, noting that patients in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha no longer face long waiting periods for procedures.
Highlighting the importance of organ donation, Naidu emphasized that in a country where such acts are not the norm, LVPEI’s achievement is even more significant. The institute has established the largest eye bank network in the Asia-Pacific region, collecting over 120,000 corneal tissues. He urged the public to replicate this model across the country to eliminate waiting lists for corneal transplants.
The event featured several key speakers, including:
- Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, Founder Chairman of LVPEI, who outlined the journey leading to this historic milestone.
- Dr. Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman of LVPEI, who discussed the current state of eye banking in India and future directions.
- Dr. Pravin Krishna, Director of the Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute, who presented on the future possibilities of cornea transplantation through evolving technology.
Dr. Rao expressed pride in his team’s perseverance, stating, “There were many skeptics discouraging us when we started this journey. I am pleased that we have proved all the naysayers wrong. This has been a journey of many twists and turns, with learnings at every turn!”
Dr. Garg echoed this sentiment, thanking the many individuals and organizations, both in India and abroad, for their unwavering support throughout the years. “I am proud of this wonderful team,” he added.
Dr. Pravin Vaddavalli reiterated the institute’s mission, emphasizing that the Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute will continue to advance scientific frontiers and ensure appropriate treatments are accessible to individuals with corneal diseases.
As LVPEI celebrates this landmark achievement, it stands as a beacon of hope and innovation in the ongoing fight against corneal-related blindness, inspiring similar institutions globally.
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