History of the Uveitis Society (India)
From Visionaries to a National Movement
The Story of Uveitis Care in India
History of Uveitis in India
Early Milestones in Uveitis Research
The study of uveitis in India began in the 1970s at PGIMER Chandigarh under Prof. I. S. Jain, who reported early cases of viral uveitis, VKH disease, and acute posterior placoid pigment epitheliopathy. His pioneering work explored important immunologic links in uveitis, such as HLA-B27. Concurrently, Dr. B. T. Maskati in Mumbai managed complex uveitis cases using immunosuppressants like methotrexate, long before these treatments became widespread.
Key Regional Contributors
North India
Prof. Amod Gupta at PGIMER Chandigarh advanced uveitis research globally, focusing on tubercular serpiginous choroiditis and intraocular tuberculosis. He also became the first President of the Uveitis Society of India and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2015.
South India
Dr. N. Rajini Kantha established the Uvea Department at Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, in 1983. Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas expanded the department, founded India’s first Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, and hosted the landmark 2001 International Uveitis Study Group meeting in Chennai. Dr. S. R. Rathinam started a dedicated Uveitis Clinic at Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai and pioneered India’s first structured Uveitis Fellowship Program in 2000. At LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, Dr. Rajeev Buddi set up the Uveitis Department, later advanced by Dr. Virender Sangwan.
Formation of the Uveitis Society of India (USI)
The idea of a unified society for uveitis specialists originated during two meetings held in 1996 at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. This culminated in the First National Symposium on Ocular Immunology and Inflammation in January 1998, attended by leading international experts. The Uveitis Society of India was formally established with its first annual conference in February 1999 at PGIMER Chandigarh. The constitution was drafted the following year in Madurai by a core group of pioneers
Legacy and Ongoing Impact
The Uveitis Society of India symbolizes a collaborative spirit among Indian specialists dedicated to advancing research, clinical care, and teaching in uveitis. These efforts have positioned India as a global leader influencing clinical practice and guidelines worldwide.
Contact and Contributions
For further information or to contribute to the historical record,
contact: secretary@uveasociety.org