Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru C. Joseph Vijay Inaugurates Pinhole Pupilloplasty Centre in Chennai

New centre at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital in Alwarpet will focus on the tissue preserving procedure developed by Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal for selected patients with complex corneal conditions

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru C. Joseph Vijay inaugurated a dedicated Pinhole Pupilloplasty Centre at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital on TTK Road in Alwarpet, Chennai.
The hospital has described the facility as the world’s first dedicated Pinhole Pupilloplasty Centre. The inauguration took place in the presence of Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, Dr. Manoj Khatri and other dignitaries.
The centre has been launched during the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight and will focus on Pinhole Pupilloplasty, also known as PPP, a microsurgical technique developed by Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal.

According to the hospital, the procedure has provided vision to more than 5,000 patients so far.
PPP is intended for appropriately selected patients with conditions including corneal scars, irregular corneas, high corneal aberrations and certain optical distortions following surgery.
Instead of replacing the cornea, the procedure modifies the optical system of the eye by creating a small and precisely centred pupillary aperture. The smaller opening is designed to limit scattered and distorted light rays while allowing better focused light to reach the retina.
This pinhole effect can reduce the impact of higher order optical aberrations and improve functional vision and visual quality in selected patients.

The procedure does not require donor corneal tissue. This is particularly relevant given the gap between the demand for corneal transplantation and the availability of donor tissue cited in the information provided by the hospital.
According to an international survey on corneal transplantation and eye banking cited by the hospital, approximately 12.7 million people worldwide were awaiting corneal transplantation, while only one donor cornea was available for every 70 people in need. The survey also reported approximately 185,000 corneal transplants annually across 116 countries.
Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, Chairman, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, said, “We are immensely thankful to the Honourable Chief Minister, Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay, for inaugurating the PPP Centre. The inauguration of a dedicated Pinhole Pupilloplasty Centre is an important milestone because it will enhance the access and wide adaptation of this path breaking surgical innovation, thus providing vision to many.”

He added, “The PPP Centre enables us to create a highly structured pathway, from detailed corneal diagnostics and optical assessment to surgery and long term outcome monitoring. It will also become a platform for teaching ophthalmologists how to identify the right patient for the right procedure.”
The centre will cover detailed diagnostics, patient selection, surgery, postoperative assessment, long term follow up, research and ophthalmic training.
Dr. Manoj Khatri, Director, Vitreo Retinal Services, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, said, “Innovation becomes truly meaningful when it moves from a scientific idea to a solution that changes a patient’s everyday life. We firmly believe that the Honourable Chief Minister’s presence here at the inauguration will further this cause, and take a remarkable innovation to benefit millions of patients worldwide.”
Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital has also been conducting workshops and academic programmes on the procedure. According to the hospital, more than 50 ophthalmologists undergo training in the technique every year.

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