Padmashree Dr. Tatyarao Lahane

Details

Name Dr. Tatyarao Lahane
Born February 12, AD 1957, Makegaon, Latur, Maharashtra, India
Known For World Record of Cataract Surgeries
Title Dean of Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Hospital Mumbai
Institution Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals Mumbai
Award Padmashree
Language Marathi, Hindi, English
Occupation Ophthalmologist
Father Pundlikrao Lahane
Mother Anjanabai Lahane

 

Dr. Tatyarao Lahane is a renowned eye surgeon, recognized both for his mastery of sophisticated techniques in eye surgery and for his pioneering community work in ophthalmology in rural and tribal areas of Maharashtra. He has performed more than 141,000 cataract surgeries successfully and treated more than 10 lakh patients so far.

Dr. Tatyarao Lahane was born on February 12, AD 1957 as poor farmer’s son in a small village Makegaon, Latur, Maharashtra. He educated himself under the scheme ‘Earn while You Learn’ and graduated in the field of medicine from Marathwada University, Aurangabad in 1981. He obtained his surgical training and passed the Master of Surgery degree in Ophthalmology from the same University in 1985. He conducted numerous cataract surgery campuses in rural Maharashtra while serving as a Lecturer and subsequently as an Associate Professor at Rural Medical College, Ambejogai.

Failing kidneys and deteriorating health brought him to Mumbai in 1994 where he joined work as Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Grant Medical College and Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy Group of Hospitals. His single hand dedication, determination and hard work has made the Department of Ophthalmology, Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals the most advanced tertiary Eye Care Centre in Maharashtra today. Inspite of being on life support medicines after his kidney transplant in 1995 he continues to work 12 to 14 hours a days, performing state of art surgeries like phacoemulsification, sutureless cataract surgery, keratoplasty, all types of lasers, paediatric surgery and cancer surgery totally free for poor patients.

Dr. Tatyarao Lahane’s contribution also includes pioneering activities in community ophthalmology, which are not part of his duties, in the Medical College but done as social work, in his off duty time. He is the pioneer of advanced phacoemulsification and stitch-less surgeries in eye campus in rural Maharashtra. He has conducted 120 such campus all over Maharashtra including 196 campus in tribal areas. He if the pioneer of such advanced cataract surgeries in leprosy patients. Since the Year 2000, he has operated 1491 leprosy patients with complicated cataracts in Hon. Bab Amte’s Anandvan Ashram, reducing the complication rate from 35% to less than 1%. He has restored vision to hundreds of blind children and adults by successful corneal transplants.

Dr. Tatyarao Lahane embodies the rare combination of surgical brilliance and humanitarian inclination. His eye camo surgical patienst travel many miles to queue up for ‘Lahane Baba’s Camps’ in the base hospitals; such is their faith in his ability to restore their vision. He has conducted live surgical workshops and instruction course in advanced surgical techniques all over India. He has more than 200 presentations in National Conferences. Through public lectures, newspaper articles and electronic media he has campaigned to create awareness for Eye Donation.

Dr. Tatyarao Lahane is the Associate Editor of Indian Journal of ophthalmology, and Index Journal, Member of Academic Council of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and President of the Bombay Ophthalmologists Association (BOA) and Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society (MOS). Bombay Ophthalmologists Association and Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society are the two major Associations in India with more than 1500 Members, working towards the goal of blindness control and prevention. He is a Member of Management Council of Maharashtra University of Health Services.

Dr. Lahane has received numerous awards for his contribution to scientific knowledge and for his vast cocial work. These include ‘Best Professor Award’, ‘Athavale Award’, ‘Marathwada Gaurav Puraskar’, ‘Karveer Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar’, ‘Gold Medal for Best Community Services’, ‘Utkrushta Karyakarta Puraskar’, ‘Samajik Krutadnyata Puraskar’, ‘Lokmat Marathwada Gaurav Puraskar’, ‘Latur Guarav Puraskar’, ‘Dr. Mulay Memorial Oration Award’, ‘Dr. Daljit Singh Gold Medal’, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, ‘Giant’s International Award’, ‘Best Doctor Award’, ‘Zee TV Ananya Sanman 2008’ and many more. Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra felicitated him in August 2007 for the feat of performing 141,000 cataract surgeries. He was awarded ‘Drusticon Award’ by Uttar Pradesh Ophthalmis Society in the 23rd Annual Conference. He was felicitated with ‘Nashik Nagari Satkar’ by great Social Worker Mr. Anna Hajare and with ‘Lokmat Guarav Puraskar’ on January 9, 2008. He was felicitated by Hon. Mayor of Mumbai with ‘Nagari Satkar’ for renowned work in the field of Ophthalmology.

He was awarded ‘Padmashree Award’ in 2008, the 4th highest civilian award in India.

At present Dr. Lahane is handling the charge of Dean at Grant Medical College and Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy Group of Hospitals, Mumbai without affecting number of eye surgeries in the Department of Ophthalmology.