N.Venkatesh Prajna

Dr. Venkatesh Prajna completed his MBBS from Madurai Medical College in 1989. He secured his diploma (DO) in ophthalmology from Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (1991) and post-graduation (DNB) from the Diplomate in National Board in Ophthalmology (1993). He completed his Fellowship in Cornea and External Diseases from Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai in 1997. He was conferred with the FRCOphth from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK in 2003. He has been working in Aravind as a consultant in the department of cornea services for over two decades and has been the head of the department for the past 10 years. He has been instrumental in developing the department to be one of the largest cornea facilities in India seeing a large number of infectious keratitis patients. Apart from his clinical commitments, he has a special interest in basic and clinical research pertaining to corneal infection. He has over 150 peer reviewed publications in the leading international and national ophthalmology journals and is a peer reviewed for many prestigious journals. He is also the Academic Director of Aravind Eye Care System and a Professor of Ophthalmology and recognised PhD guide under T.N Dr. MGR Medical University since 2003. He is a member of the Assessment and Examination Committee of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) for the past 15 years. He has been a recipient of large competitive grants from the NIH , DBT , ICMR. Dr. Prajna has written over 10 book chapters and three books. He is the Chief Editor for Peyman’s Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, 2nd edition that compiles contributions from 300 contributors from 15 countries.