Orbit, Oculoplasty and Oncology, a distinct subspecialty handles anomalies of lids, lacrimal system, extra ocular structures, bony orbit and other ocular adnexa. The department focuses on evaluation, diagnosis and management of orbital and adnexal disorders.

The institute has excellent support facilities, diagnostic equipment like Ultrasound A & B Scan, X-ray unit. CT scan, MRI (outside collaboration), well established ocular microbiology, pathology, immunology and genetic lab. Standard surgical theatre is provided with operating microscope, surgical lights, fibre optic light, bipolar and unipolar cautery unit, Ellman Radio frequency cutting- coagulating system, radiotherapy (outside collaboration) and chemotherapy facilities.

We perform plastic surgeries for entropion, ectropion, ptosis, lid reconstruction and various grafts. Probing, DCT, DCR, Enucleation, Evisceration, Exenteration, socket reconstruction, orbital implants, orbitotomies and repair of orbital fractures are also done.

The “Orbit and Oculoplasty clinic” has spread its wings and is now the “Orbit, Oculoplasty and Oncology clinic.” We have registered an increase of 21.5% in outpatient services and 25.6% in surgery across all hospitals in the past year.

We have taken numerous steps forward in our oncology clinic. Chemotherapy is administered for the relatively common retinoblastoma, and other rarer ocular cancers. The “Ring of Hope” fund has helped many in receiving chemotherapy without any charges. The Ring of Hope Fund was started on February 14th, 2004. Since then, it has helped serve 80 children and adults who otherwise would have been unable to access crucial medical care. Chemotherapy sessions are administered at Aravind, in consultation with a local oncologist and for the duration of their stay the children and their families are provided free food and accommodation. A trained nurse attends to their needs while an experienced medical officer stops by for regular check-ups. Our oncology clinic, we can proudly say, is now a referral centre.

Our Ocular Prosthesis Centre is equipped to cater to challenging cases with excellent results and we have witnessed a significant growth in the number of custom made prostheses. At the Indo Israel Ophthalmology conference held in Chennai in November 2005, our poster on “Anophthalmic sockets” received the best poster award.

We have administered Botulinum Toxin to patients with Essential Blepharospasm and other facial dystonias with promising results and at an affordable price. We have also given Botox for Chemotarsorraphy, lid retraction and spastic entropion.

We also had the honour of a visit by Dr. William B. Stewart, who evaluated patients and chaired clinical discussions for us.

The field of Orbit, Oculoplasty and Oncology is forever changing and we are geared up to update ourselves. We expect a further increase in our services and are in the process of standardizing protocols for enhanced patient care, research and training.