Aravind Eye Hospital in Anna Nagar, Madurai is the first hospital and headquarters of the Aravind Eye Care System. It opened in 1976 with a small number of beds and has since developed into one of India’s best-known high-volume eye-care centres. The Madurai hospital treats patients from across India and overseas and provides services ranging from routine vision assessment and cataract care to cornea, glaucoma, retina, paediatric ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplasty and low-vision rehabilitation.
Aravind reports more than 1.5 million outpatient visits and over 178,000 surgeries at Madurai in the year ending March 2025. The base hospital works from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Saturday, while emergency eye care is available 24×7. It also operates paying and free-care sections. Patients travelling for specialist care should carry earlier eye reports and prescriptions. This guide covers the Anna Nagar campus, OPD timing, services, contacts and practical visit information.
Quick Overview: Aravind Eye Hospital Madurai
| Particular | Details |
| Hospital | Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai |
| Role | First Aravind centre and headquarters |
| Address | 1, Anna Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625020 |
| Established | 1976 |
| OPD timing | 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday |
| Weekly closure | Sunday for routine OPD |
| Emergency eye care | 24×7 |
| Patient enquiry | 0452 4356105 |
| Official enquiry | 0452 4356100 |
| patientcare@aravind.org |
Aravind Eye Hospital Madurai Address and Location
The main Aravind Eye Hospital is at 1, Anna Nagar, Madurai. This is the base hospital and should not be confused with Aravind’s Madurai City Centre on Palace Road or the network’s community clinics and vision centres. Patients travelling specifically for surgery, specialty evaluation or referral care should confirm that their appointment is for the Anna Nagar base hospital.
Aravind Eye Hospital Madurai OPD Timing
The base hospital follows a fixed routine outpatient window. Patients should allow adequate time because a complete eye examination may involve registration, visual acuity testing, refraction, dilation and additional specialty tests before the final consultation.
| Service | Timing / Availability |
| Base hospital OPD | 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday |
| Sunday | Routine OPD closed |
| Emergency eye care | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Typical eye examination | May take around two hours for a straightforward visit |
| Specialty testing | Can extend the visit if additional investigations are required |
How to Book an Appointment
Aravind sees a very high number of patients and many services are organised through structured registration and clinic flow. Referred patients should bring the referral note and recent reports. For patient-specific queries, the Madurai patient enquiry number is the best starting point.
| Appointment Option | What to Know |
| Patient enquiries | 0452 4356105 |
| Official enquiries | 0452 4356100 |
| Second opinion | Reports can be submitted through the hospital enquiry process |
| Referred patient | Bring referral letter and recent medical/eye reports |
Major Specialities and Clinical Services
Aravind Madurai is a dedicated eye hospital rather than a general multispeciality hospital. Its clinical structure is organised around comprehensive ophthalmology and subspecialty eye services.
| Clinical Area | Key Services |
| Cataract | Evaluation, cataract surgery and intraocular lens care |
| Cornea and refractive surgery | Corneal disease, corneal procedures and refractive services |
| Retina and vitreous | Medical and surgical retinal care |
| Glaucoma | Diagnosis, monitoring, laser and surgical management |
| Children’s eye care | Paediatric ophthalmology and childhood eye disorders |
| Neuro-ophthalmology | Visual problems related to the nervous system |
| Orbit, oculoplasty and oncology | Eyelid, orbit, prosthetic and ocular oncology services |
| Low vision | Vision rehabilitation and assistive support |
Facilities and Diagnostic Services
The hospital combines outpatient examination, imaging, surgery, rehabilitation and emergency eye care in one system. High patient volumes are supported by standardised clinical pathways and dedicated specialty clinics.
| Facility | Purpose / Availability |
| Comprehensive eye examination | Visual acuity, refraction and ophthalmic assessment |
| Diagnostic imaging | Retinal, corneal, glaucoma and other specialty diagnostics |
| Operating theatres | High-volume cataract and advanced eye surgery |
| Emergency eye care | Round-the-clock assessment for urgent ocular problems |
| Vision rehabilitation | Low-vision evaluation and rehabilitation support |
| Eye bank services | Eye donation and corneal support through the Aravind system |
| Pharmacy/optical support | Patient support for prescribed eye medicines and vision needs |
| Teaching and training | Accredited academic and specialist training activities |
Emergency and Urgent Care
Aravind Madurai states that emergency eye care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sudden loss of vision, serious eye injury, chemical exposure, severe eye pain or an acute postoperative problem should be treated as urgent and should not wait for the next routine OPD session.
Paying, Free-Care and Patient Support
Aravind’s model includes both paying and free-care services. The hospital’s clinical standards are organised within the same eye-care system, while accommodation, service pathway and charges can differ. Patients can ask the registration or enquiry desk which section is appropriate for their visit.
| If You Plan to Use | Carry / Confirm |
| Paying section | Consultation and treatment through the paid-service pathway |
| Free-care section | Dedicated service pathway for eligible patients |
| Referral/second opinion | Carry prior records so the specialty team can review earlier treatment |
What to Carry for an OPD Visit
| Item | Why It Helps |
| Photo ID | Useful for registration |
| Previous eye prescriptions | Shows spectacle and treatment history |
| Referral letter | Important for referred specialty cases |
| Old scan/test reports | Helps compare disease progression |
| Current medicines | Include eye drops and systemic medicines |
| Sunglasses/attendant | Useful if the eyes are dilated during examination |
Aravind Eye Hospital Madurai Contact Details
| Contact | Details |
| Patient enquiries | 0452 4356105 |
| Official enquiries | 0452 4356100 |
| patientcare@aravind.org / patientfeedback@aravind.org | |
| Address | 1, Anna Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625020 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much time should I keep for a first eye examination?
Aravind advises that a typical examination for a minor vision problem may take about two hours. Extra tests or specialty review can make the visit longer.
2. Will my eyes always be dilated?
Not every patient requires dilation, but many retinal, cataract and detailed eye examinations do. If dilation is planned, vision may remain blurred for some time afterward.
3. Can I come on Sunday for a routine check-up?
The main routine OPD is closed on Sunday. Emergency eye cases are still attended.
4. Should a referred patient bring old images and reports?
Yes. Bring the referral note, previous prescriptions, scans and recent reports so the specialist can compare findings and avoid unnecessary repeat tests.
5. Is the Anna Nagar hospital the same as Aravind City Centre?
No. The Anna Nagar facility is the base hospital and headquarters. Aravind City Centre is a separate Madurai clinic on Palace Road.
