Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Chennai

Referred as the "Egmore Eye Hospital", the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Chennai, is the Oldest Eye Hospital in the Indian Subcontinent and in Asia. The institute was established in the year 1819 and is the second oldest Eye Hospital of such a kind, second next only to the Moorfield Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom.

The reputation of the hospital nurtures the tradition and devotion of eminent scholars, who have contributed to the field of ophthalmology whilst providing services to the needed.

Pioneering in the training of ophthalmologists, optometrists and paramedics who serve globally, the hospital is resourceful and delivers caring service to the patients. The hospital is associated with the prestigious Government General Hospital and Madras Medical College, Chennai and is affiliated to the Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

Early history
Known as “Madras Eye Infirmary” and founded in the summer of 1819, by Dr. R. Richardson, the Government Ophthalmic Hospital is the oldest eye hospital in the nation and one among the earliest in the world, (second only to the Moorfields Eye Hospital, UK, Estd. 1805).

In 1639, Andrews Cogan, Chief of the Honourable East India Company negotiated with the local Governor of the Emperor of Vijayanagar, and bought a piece of land north of the Portuguese town, 'Santhome', to establish an office. It was on this land, Cogan and Francis Day built the now famous Fort St. George identifying the place as “Chennapapattinam”, a name derived from the Chennakesava Perumal Temple that stood in the environs of the present fort.

From this stronghold, the entire region was gradually conquered and annexed to the property of East India Company. Concurrently, the company faced a situation in which the medical needs of the various garrisons also increased, compounded by the widespread infection and eye diseases.

The great prevalence of eye diseases amongst the soldiers and the general public prompted the Directors of the Company to consult with Dr. Benjamin Travers, the then surgeon for East India Company. He apprised them of the establishment of an Eye Infirmary in London (erstwhile Moorfields Hospital) for the treatment of eye diseases.

He advised the Company to depute his disciple Dr. R. Richardson to Madras. Richardson, who had studied ophthalmology under Travers, founded the “ Madras Eye Infirmary” in July 1819 at Royapettah (behind the Old Madras Club). Subsequently in 1820 the infirmary was shifted to the site occupied by the Tram Shed in Egmore, (opposite the present day Dinathanthi Office). A separate and dedicated Hospital complex at the present site came into effect in March 1884 with three main separate blocks with an additional outpatient dispensary. Subsequently various wards and blocks were built on as per need basis, which breathe even today in the lush greens

In March 1888, with public support the “Eye Infirmary” rechristened itself as the Government Ophthalmic Hospital and Lt. Col. Drake Brockman (1873 -1894) served as the Superintendent

Twentieth century
The hospital owes its present glory to Lt. Col. R. H. Elliot (superintendent from 1904-1913). He was an eminent ophthalmologist and visionary who assumed office as the Superintendent in 1904. Mr. Elliot contributed greatly to the budding field of ophthalmology, notable of which is his design of Scelro-corneal Trephining, still considered by many, as an innovative surgical procedure to treat chronic glaucoma. During this period the hospital grew distinctly, attracting numerous and distinguished visitors from the country and abroad. He envisaged and devised a plan to develop the teaching practice of the institute on an extensive scale whilst developing the infrastructure. A gracious block named after Lady Lawley for Indians along with a European ward built in the year 1911 with later additions of the administration and septic blocks in 1914 came under the management of Lt. Col. R. H. Elliot This stately building has now been (in 2006) declared as a Heritage Building by the Archaeological Department of India. Lt. Col. R. H. Elliot's vision of starting a school for ophthalmology shaped up under the guidance of his successor Lt. Col. Kirkpatrik (1914 – 1920) who played a key role to construct a School of Ophthalmology. Aptly named as “The Elliot School of Ophthalmology”, the school functions even today. For the first time in the history of the nation, in 1926 , the hospital instituted, the ‘ Licentiate Course in Ophthalmology' and ever since several congregates of ophthalmologists have adorned the school.

An eminent ophthalmologist and a keen pathologist, Lt. Col .R. E. Wright (1920 – 1938), succeeded Lt. Col. Kirkpatrick. He held the office for a record 18 years which has not been bettered till date. Lt.Col. R. E. Wright conceived and created “ The Museum of Elliot ” housed in the School of Ophthalmology. Acclaimed as the finest, the museum pays tribute to ophthalmic world, reminiscing and reasoning its mellowness.

Just as the Indian force was gaining momentum in the liberation movements, Diwan Bahadur K. Koman Nayar (1940 –1945) became the first Indian to hold the office of Superintendent in 1940. An adept eye surgeon he oversaw the institution of the post-graduate “ Diploma Course in Ophthalmology” for the first time in the country in 1942.

Post-independence
With the dawn of independence of the nation, a skilled eye surgeon and pathologist, Dr. R. E. S. Muthayya (1947 –1956), assumed office heralding the usher of a new era. He envisaged and established the India's first “Eye Bank” in the hospital, in October 1947, with the government's permission to collect eyes from the deceased destitutes and use them to give sight to corneally blind persons. He stands credited to have performed the First Corneal Transplant Surgery in India, in 1948. It was during his term, that the present day programme of training in ophthalmology came into being. In 1949, the hospital introduced the “ Master degree in Ophthalmology” with an intake of two candidates.

Two mobile ophthalmic units were started (1957) to function with government support. It was actively involved in providing relief for eye ailments in the villages within a radius of 100 miles from each centre. Under the Second Five Year Plan of the Government of India, a requisite to train an optometry support team saw the commencement of “ School of Optometry ” in 1962. It was the India's first diploma course in optometry with provision to train 30 students every year. Ever since, the school has been generating scores of optometrists in the nation who are delivering their service in India and abroad.

The National programme for Control of Blindness in 1985, acknowledged the role played by the hospital in blindness eradication and upgraded the hospital as “Regional Institute of Ophthalmology”. The institute commenced its own departments of Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology and equipped itself with Fundus camera, advanced slit lamps, operating microscopes and laser facilities. The institute serves as an examination centre for International Council of Ophthalmologists.

Current day
With a matchless and privileged saga, the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital is currently a tertiary care teaching hospital, with traditional association to the prestigious Government General Hospital, Chennai and affiliation to the Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

Famed as the "Egmore Eye Hospital" the hospital caters as a major ophthalmic centre for the region of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry offering a complete range of elective and emergency eye care services for the public from the region. It is well accessible to the poor and needy delivering 24 hour medical and para-medical service.

The hospital serves as the major regional centre proffering eye banking and eye donation service with a dedicated medical, paramedical team with complete resources available throughout the day and night.

The work of the hospital is focussed on promoting eye health, creating awareness on prevention of eye diseases, screening services for children and public, management of common eye diseases including a round the clock management of eye injuries and trauma.

The hospital takes referrals from centres spread across the southern states of the nation, while regularly providing eye care services to the Government General Hospital, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Child Health, Institute of Mental health in Chennai.

Services
Spread athwart the old Marshalls road the hospital possesses a bed strength of 478 with 50 exclusive beds in special wards and 428 for general public, with an average daily bed occupancy rate of 60%.

With a well structured seven unit organization the hospital delivers outpatient care to an average of 1000 patients a day. The speciality units available include:

• Cornea, External Eye Diseases and Contact Lens Unit.

• Glaucoma Unit.

• Vitreo-Retina Unit.

• Orbit and Oculoplasty Unit.

• Uvea and Low Vision Aid Unit.

• Strabismus/ Paediatric Ophthalmology / Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit.

• Mobile Ophthalmic Unit.

The work of the ophthalmic team is supported by a talented team of non-clinical specialities including Microbiology, Pathology, and Bio-Chemistry Departments.

With compassionate support from the Lions Club of Chennai District 324 A, an organized and separate eye bank that co-ordinates with the doctors, paramedical team and community support workers ensure a 24 hour eye donation and eye banking service.

Training and courses
• The Training Programme of the Institute is recognised by the Royal College of the Ophthalmologists, UK, and two year training in the institute is acknowledged and accepted as equivalent to Basic Specialist Training Programme in Ophthalmology of United Kingdom.First institute in India to commence Diploma in Ophthalmology in 1942 and Master of Surgery in Ophthalmology in 1949.

• The institute serves as the examination centre for International Council of Ophthalmologists with the faculty present. • The Current Training Programmes offered include,

Medical Undergraduate Medical Training Postgraduate Medical Training - Diploma in Ophthalmology, - Master of Surgery in Ophthalmology, - Diplomate in National Board Research / PhD Practising ophthalmologists Various short term fellowship courses are offered throughout the year for practising ophthalmologists

Paramedical Optometry: Diploma in Optometry Nursing: Training of Diploma in Nursing, B. Sc (Nursing), and M. Sc. (Nursing) as a regular part of the Nursing Courses curriculum under the Government of Tamilnadu.