Founder & Director, Darshan Eye Care
Dr Srinivas K. Rao
Cornea Specialist
MBBS, DO, DNB, FRCSEd
With over 30 years of experience, Dr Rao has specialised in the management of complex cataracts, corneal disease, and refractive errors — among the first surgeons in India to adopt techniques such as limbal stem cell transplantation and keratoprosthesis surgery for end-stage corneal conditions.
Education
Medical training and qualifications
Madras Medical College, Chennai
Completed his medical degree, graduating as Best Outgoing Student and earning four additional medals for academic excellence.
Sankara Nethralaya
Completed postgraduate training in Ophthalmology, affiliated with Dr MGR Medical University.
DNB & FRCSEd
Awarded the Diploma of the National Board (DNB) and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, securing the Gold Medal for Best Performance the same year.
International subspecialty training
Advanced training across four continents
Advanced training in corneal disease and surgery.
Trained in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
Trained in LASIK refractive surgery.
Specialised training in lamellar corneal surgery under Dr Gerrit Melles.
Trained in keratoprosthesis surgery with Prof. Giancarlo Falcinelli.
Trained in epidemiology and biostatistics; also certified in advanced IOL surgery including the AlphaCor prosthesis.
Career
Three decades in clinical ophthalmology
Senior Consultant, Sankara Nethralaya
Served for 15 years before moving into an academic professorship in Hong Kong.
Professor of Ophthalmology, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Held a professorship at Asia's largest university.
Director, Darshan Eye Care & Darshan Surgical Centre
Founded and continues to direct the institution, providing expert eye care and surgical services in Anna Nagar, Chennai.
Clinical focus
Areas of specialisation
Academic contribution
A career in numbers
- 20 book chapters contributed, and editor of the A to Z book series in ophthalmology.
- Reviewer for 10 peer-reviewed journals; Anterior Segment Section Editor for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.
- Instructional courses delivered at APAO, WOC, ASCRS and AAO.
- Founding President of the Cornea Society of India.
- Developer of HOST — the Handbook of Ocular Surface Treatment.
- Principal Investigator in Phase III clinical trials for Alcon, Allergan, and Cipla.
Awards & honours
Recognition
Current affiliations
Where Dr Rao practises and teaches today
- Director — Darshan Eye Care & Surgical Centre
- Ophthalmic Consultant — Madras Medical Mission, Chennai
- Head of Cornea Service — Sunetra Eye Care, Kolkata
- Honorary Associate Professor — DOVS, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Member, International Advisory Board — CMER, China
Dr Srinivas K Rao,MBBS, FRCSEd
Cornea Specialist
Dr. Srinivas K Rao, DO, DNB, FRCSEd, completed his medical degree at Madras Medical College, Chennai in 1988, graduating as the Best Outgoing Student and earning four additional medals for academic excellence. He pursued his postgraduate training in Ophthalmology at Sankara Nethralaya, affiliated with Dr. MGR Medical University, completing it in 1991. In 2002, he was awarded the Diploma of the National Board (DNB) and also earned the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd), where he secured the Gold Medal for Best Performance that year.
Dr. Rao served as a Senior Consultant at Sankara Nethralaya for 15 years before joining the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Asia’s largest university, as Professor of Ophthalmology from September 2004 to August 2006. Since October 2006, he has been the Director of Darshan Eye Care and Darshan Surgical Centre, providing expert eye care and surgical services.
Dr. Srinivas K Rao has undergone extensive and advanced international training in Corneal Diseases and Surgery, including programs in Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, and New York. He trained in Phacoemulsification in Calgary, Canada, and LASIK in Minneapolis, USA. His specialized training in Lamellar Corneal Surgery was completed under Dr. Gerrit Melles in Rotterdam, and he received instruction in Keratoprosthesis surgery in Italy with Prof. Giancarlo Falcinelli. Dr. Rao is certified in advanced intraocular lens (IOL) surgery, including the AlphaCor prosthesis, and has also been trained in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Estelle Doheny Eye Institute, California.
With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Rao has specialized in the management of complex cataracts, corneal diseases, and refractive errors. He was among the first surgeons in India to adopt advanced surgical techniques such as limbal stem cell transplantation, anterior and posterior lamellar corneal procedures, pterygium autografts, and keratoprosthesis surgery for treating end-stage corneal conditions. In addition to his corneal expertise, he is a pioneer in the management of complex cataract cases, including scleral-fixated IOLs, pediatric cataract surgery, and treatment of dislocated intraocular lenses.
Dr. Rao also has extensive experience in LASIK and refractive surgery, including managing complications of refractive procedures.
A distinguished academician and speaker, he has participated in over 325 national and 85 international conferences, delivering nearly 700 lectures. He has conducted instructional courses at major global platforms such as the APAO, WOC, ASCRS, and AAO. He has published 195 papers in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to 20 book chapters, and serves as the Editor of the A to Z book series. He is a reviewer for 10 peer-reviewed journals and currently serves as the Anterior Segment Section Editor for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.
Dr. Rao is also a Principal Investigator in Phase III clinical trials for leading pharmaceutical companies such as Alcon, Allergan, and Cipla.
His scholarly contributions, books on cataract, refractive, and corneal surgery, and reputation as a mentor and speaker make him a highly sought-after authority in ophthalmology. He actively mentors fellows through his CORNEA Fellowship Program and is committed to advancing education in corneal disease management. He has also developed HOST (Handbook of Ocular Surface Treatment)—a comprehensive module for diagnosing and managing ocular surface disorders. Notably, Dr. Rao was the founding President of the Cornea Society of India.
He has received the following awards
Outstanding Service in the Prevention of Blindness, APAO – June 2006
IMA Oration – October 2006
Rustom Ranji Oration & Gold Medal – 2008
IAOH Oration and Medal – 2009
Trivandrum Ophthalmic Club Oration – 2016
G Mukherjee Oration, ISCKRS, August 2022
Dr Anjana Saikia Oration, OSA, November 2022
Current Affiliations
Director – Darshan Eye Care & Surgical Centre
Ophthalmic Consultant, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai
Head of Cornea Service, Sunetra Eye Care, Kolkata
Honorary Associate Professor, DOVS, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Member of International Advisory Board, CMER, China