Honour for Hyderabad Doctor
Dr. Raja Narsing Rao to Address Global Experts on Anaesthetising Low-Birth-Weight Babies
Hyderabad, August 03, 2025: Hyderabad’s senior consultant Dr. Raja Narsing Rao, renowned for his expertise in anaesthetising extremely low-birth-weight babies (under 1200 grams), has been invited to share his experience with the global medical fraternity at the British Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Conference (BOAC). The prestigious event will take place at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on September 4–5, 2025.
Dr. Rao, who serves as Consultant at LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and EMRI, and is currently President of the World Congress of Ophthalmic Anaesthesia (WCOA), the Association of Indian Ophthalmic Anaesthesiologists (AIOA), and the Indian Association of Physician Assistants (IAPA), will deliver a talk on “Challenges with Newborns & Ex-Prem Babies.”
The British Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Society (BOAS) has been a pioneer in promoting high-quality ophthalmic anaesthesia through evidence-based practice, education, and international collaboration. Similarly, the AIOA—with the highest number of ophthalmic anaesthesiologists worldwide—has been playing a leading role in advancing this field.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, Dr. Rao said, “All babies born prematurely need an eye examination within 30 days of birth—it can save their vision. India sees 3.6 million preterm births annually, and around 10% risk of blindness if left unchecked. Premature birth is also the leading cause of death in children under five.
According to WHO, preterm babies are those born before 37 weeks of gestation, further classified as: Extremely preterm: under 28 weeks; Very preterm: 28–32 weeks; Moderate to late preterm: 32–37 weeks
“Most ophthalmic complications occur in very low-birth-weight babies, under 1200 grams. Anaesthetising these fragile infants is one of the biggest challenges, but our team has gained significant expertise over the years,” Dr. Rao explained.
He credited the success of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) treatment to the combined efforts of anaesthesiologists and surgeons, particularly Dr. Subhadra Jalali and her team at LVPEI, pioneers with over 30 years of experience in ROP care.
LV Prasad Eye Institute is among the largest centres in the world for ROP treatment, with over one lakh premature babies treated in Hyderabad alone. Dr. Rao has been a key contributor to this unparalleled experience.