The Visionary of Sight

Retiring at an age when most rest, and with hands crippled by arthritis, he founded an eye hospital determined to end needless blindness for anyone, rich or poor.

Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy, known affectionately as Dr. V, was born in 1918 and became an ophthalmologist despite severe rheumatoid arthritis that deformed his hands. He learned to hold surgical instruments and perform delicate eye operations regardless, and treated countless patients during his years in government service.

In 1976, after retiring from that service, he founded the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai as a small facility of just eleven beds. His conviction was simple and radical — that no one should go blind for lack of care they could not afford.

Aravind grew into one of the world's most admired eye care systems, offering treatment to paying and non-paying patients alike, with those who could pay helping to sustain care for those who could not. Its high-volume, high-quality model became a subject of study far beyond India.

Dr. Venkataswamy died on 7 July 2006 at the age of 87. The Aravind Eye Care System he built continues his mission of eliminating needless blindness, one restored pair of eyes at a time.