NEIGRIHMS Team Clinches Top Honour in Ophthalmology at International Conference

A research team from the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, led by Prof (Dr) Tanie Natung, has been awarded the ‘Best of Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Award’ at the 40th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress. The event was held in conjunction with the 83rd Annual Conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, from April 3 to 6, 2025.

The award-winning research paper, titled “Comparison of Hill-RBF 3.0 with Barrett Universal II, SRK/T, Hoffer Q, Haigis, and Holladay 1 to Predict the Accuracy of Post-Cataract Surgery Refractive Outcomes in Indian Eyes,” evaluated six intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulas. The study aimed to identify the most accurate method for predicting refractive outcomes following cataract surgery in Indian patients—a critical component in enhancing visual outcomes.

The team comprised Dr Natung, Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at NEIGRIHMS, alongside co-researchers Dr Ishita Pandey, Dr Benjamin Nongrum, and Dr Ester Sekhose. Their findings are expected to provide valuable insights and serve as a practical reference for ophthalmologists globally.

The conference, one of the largest of its kind, attracted over 13,500 delegates from around the world. AIOS, with nearly 27,000 members, is India’s largest association of ophthalmic professionals. The Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, a leading publication with a broad international readership, presented the award in recognition of the NEIGRIHMS team’s contribution to advancing eye care.

Dr Tanie Natung, who hails from Lumdung village in the Papu Valley of Arunachal Pradesh's East Kameng district, continues to make significant strides in ophthalmic research and medical education.