Aravind Eye Care and Alcon Launch Retina Surgery Training Center

Aravind Eye Care System, in partnership with eye care company Alcon, has launched a new global center for vitreoretinal surgery training in Coimbatore, India. This Aravind Alcon Global Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Vitreoretinal Surgery builds upon their earlier collaboration, which established a Global Centre of Excellence for Cataract Surgery in 2024.

The new center targets a critical gap in global eye care: the shortage of trained retina specialists. This deficit particularly affects access to care in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. The facility is designed to equip ophthalmologists with advanced training in retina surgery, combining hands-on surgical practice with scalable virtual education.

The center features a state-of-the-art wet laboratory and is set to train approximately 60 participants annually. Additionally, it will extend its educational reach through virtual fellowship programs. Alcon's Senior Vice President, Raj Narayanan, highlighted the long-standing partnership and its commitment to developing future eye care professionals.

Aravind Eye Care System, known for its high-quality eye care and medical education, aims for this center to strengthen surgical capabilities and improve the availability of retina care in underserved regions. By integrating practical training with virtual learning, the initiative seeks to build sustainable healthcare capacity and enhance patient outcomes worldwide.