Aravind and Alcon Open Retina Surgery Training Hub in Coimbatore

The new center builds upon the success of the Global Cataract Centre of Excellence established by the two organizations in 2024. While cataract surgery has become more accessible worldwide, retina care remains a significant challenge due to a persistent lack of trained specialists across Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. The Coimbatore hub is designed to rectify this imbalance by combining state-of-the-art wet laboratory training with scalable virtual fellowships to ensure long-term capacity building.

Rajkumar Narayanan, President of Alcon International, emphasized that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing the next generation of eye care professionals. Dr. Narendran, Chief Medical Officer at Aravind Eye Care Hospital, noted that the initiative arrives at a vital moment, as retinal disease continues to emerge as a leading cause of vision loss globally. By providing a structured, hands-on path for mastering complex procedures, the center intends to scale surgical expertise in underserved regions where specialized services remain scarce.