Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi, after her post-graduation, joined Aravind Eye Hospital as its first medical officer in 1976. After a formal fellowship in paediatric ophthalmology and Strabismus in the year 1982 at the University of Illinois in Chicago, at a time when the sub-speciality was restricted to Strabismus practice alone, she established a full-time functioning paediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus clinic, first of its kind in the country in the year 1983 at AEH, Madurai. In 1990, for the first time, the country started offering fellowship training (national and international candidates) in the sub-speciality, which is continued till today. International ORBIS recognised the centre as one of the best learning and training centres, which trained the required manpower towards establishing (50 centres) either new or increasing the capacity of already existing paediatric ophthalmology services both in the country and outside. She takes pride in saying that many of the leaders in the field, both in the country and out, especially Guatemala, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Albania, and Tanzania, are her own Alumni.
In line with the clinical work, she extended her services to school-going children and children enrolled in Anganwadis and NICUs in the region in collaboration with many NGO organisations like IEF, Sight savers and USAID. Specifically, she was one of the leaders in accomplishing a service cum research project – REACH (Refractive error among school-going children) in collaboration with ORBIS, through which many hypotheses on screening school-going children were published. In the time when ROP was just on the rise (almost two decades ago), it started networking with NICUS in the region, which has resulted in strong networking of all the tertiary care centres of Aravind, enabling more and more neonates to benefit.
Dr. Vijayalakshmi’s work has extended beyond the clinical service, and she has played a pivotal role in many epidemiological \ clinical \ and research projects. Population-based surveillance for congenital Rubella Syndrome was done in collaboration with WHO and ICMR; this study was pursued further and culminated in a landmark finding of isolating the circulating virus in the region. Apart from publications, these findings influenced ICMR to enhance the existing vaccination programs against CRS in the country. As a result, in less than two decades, the disease has become a rare entity in the region.
Her work, especially on Molecular genetics( in collaboration with AMRF) related to Childhood eye diseases e.g.- congenital cataracts, Globe anomalies, Aniridia, LCA, RP, and Oculocutaneous albinism went to the extent of predicting the inheritance pattern through Amniocentesis. Right now, it is in the process of establishing a genetic registry (institute-based) of all inherited eye disorders.
Recently, she has been focussing on early intervention programmes for visually impaired infants and toddlers, especially those with CVI and autism and holds pride in being recognised in the field as one of the core groups under the paediatric Low vision rehabilitation committee of AAPOS. Recently, DCPCR (Delhi Commission for Protection of Child’s Rights) conferred the Children Champion Award in recognition of her services to visually impaired children,
On the academic side, she has 138 publications to her credit. She has authored nine chapters for books, including one in Peymen’s, apart from her widely read practical guides, one for paediatricians and one for Orthoptists. She also contributed a significant number of lectures on Strabismus to DIGINERVE.
She is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from SPOSI, TNOA and Sadguru Shihiksha Nethralaya at Chitrakoot; apart from Joseph Gnanathickam, Captain Subramniam, Eshwar Chandriah and Professor Sundareswaren’s oration awards, TACO oration award, Dr. Kalidas Bhattachrya Memorial Award. More importantly, She is quoted by Dr. David Taylor in his book saying that Dr. Vijayalakshmi P is distinguished for in Worldwide teaching training and research from India and is one of the key pioneers in pediatric ophthalmology worldwide.
