Chennai, July 8, 2023:  Thiru La. Ganesan, Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland today inaugurated IIRSI 2023, the 38th Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery Convention, and India’s leading platform focused on treating preventive blindness, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, and refractive eye surgery.  The two-day event was on July 8 and 9 at ITC Grand Chola Hotel in Chennai.

IIRSI 2023 aims to bring together Ophthalmologists across India and abroad to discuss the advancement in technology and their experience in IOL implantation and Refractive Surgery and contribute towards the treatment of preventive blindness.

Over 4,000 ophthalmologists from across the world participated in the two-day event. The annual conference is held by the Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India (IIRSI) to showcase their skills and present the latest advancements in the field of ophthalmology, especially cataract and refractive surgery.

Addressing the distinguished gathering Thiru La. Ganesan, Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland said, “It gives me great pleasure to be part of the inaugural function of the 38th Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery Convention.  This convention is being attended by Doctors from India and other countries. Conferences like the IIRSI play a very important role in enhancing the skills of Indian eye surgeons. There are 12 million people who are suffering from blindness in our country and this number can be reduced by everyone pledging and donating their eyes, “.

The conference covered foreign faculty lectures, session for young ophthalmologists, hands on Wetlab courses, Ophthalmic Premier League competition, Court Martial in Ophthalmology, company sponsored symposiums, IIRSI Film Festival Award Show (IFFA), and IIRSI photography competition. 

Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Amar Agarwal, Secretary General, IIRSI, and Chairman, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital said, “The annual conference of IIRSI has become a pivotal event in the ophthalmology calendar of India centred on global ophthalmic innovations. This year, eye surgeons are participating to showcase the surgeons the latest advancements in the field. This conference will provide a platform for the aspiring surgeons to know different ways of tackling the difficult situations of cataract and its surgery. Overall, IIRSI has been instrumental in significantly increasing the capabilities and offerings of the eyecare sector in India in terms of diagnostics and treatment,”.

List of Awardees

The awardees from India were Dr. Ragini Parekh, who received the President Gold Medal and Dr. R. Venkatesh, Puducherry, who received the Special Award. Other Indian awardees were Dr. Aaarthi Nangia, Dr.Arvind Kumar Morya, Dr. Jenin Patel, Dr. Kamal Kapur, Dr. Reshma Jhaveri and Dr. Shakeen Singh.

The International awardees were Dr. Dalia Said, Dr. Harminder Dua from United Kingdom, Dr. Jennifer Rose – Nussbaumer, Dr. Uri Soiberman from USA, Dr. Dinh Thi Hang Anh – Vietnam, Dr. Farhad Hafezi –        Switzerland, Dr. Joshua C Teichman – Canada, Dr. Leonardo Torquetti –         Brazil, Dr. Michael Mimouni – Israel, Dr. Robert Ang – Phillippines, Dr. Roger Zaldivar – Argentina, Dr. Tamer Gamaly – Dubai and Dr. Yuri Kallinnikov – Russia.

Dr. Mahipal S. Sachdev, Chairman Scientific Committee – Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India (IIRSI), Dr. Ragini Parekh, President – IIRSI and Prof. Amar Agarwal, Secretary General – IIRSI and Chairman, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital were among the dignitaries present at the inaugural session.