Eli Pradhan MD, MRCSEd (Ophth)

Dr. Eli Pradhan, MD, MRCSEd (UK) is currently working as a Consultant Ophthalmologist in Medical Retina in Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO) and the clinical evaluator of the Medical device (Intraocular lens), which is manufactured by Fred Hollows IOL Laboratories, Nepal.

She completed her MBBS from Dhaka University in 1996 and earned Post graduation in Ophthalmology from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Nepal with her thesis on “Prospective study of Ocular Trauma in Nepal”, which led her to be awarded with the Gold Medal. She received Membership in Ophthalmology from Royal college of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2009. She continued her career in ophthalmology in the UK, began her work in the University hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, UK as a registrar in medical retina since 2008. She also completed one year Fellowship in Medical Retina.

She has participated in Pan European Clinical Trials in the UK, in five different studies as a co- investigator. In Nepal, she is a lead investigator of “Visual Function and Vision related quality of life in Sight threatening Diabetic Retinopathy”. As a main clinical team in “Diabetic Retinoapthy Project in Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology” funded by Fred Hollows, Australia, which is an ongoing project.

She is a main team leader of formulating “National Diabetic Retinopathy Guidelines”, under TIO and Nepal Ophthalmic Society, which has been endorsed by ministry of Health. She is also working as a clinical team member of “Retinopathy of Prematurity project with importance of Telemedicine”of TIO, supported by USAID, and .HKI. She is also the principal investigator in IOL study “ Safety and effectiveness of yellow foldable Fred Hollows IOL, Nepal”.

She is the President of Nepal Vitreo Retina society, NVRS and actively involved in developing VR services in Nepal. She is appointed as the Scientific Chair of the SAO (SAARC Ophthalmology) since 2018. She is also the chief editor of Nepalese Journal of Ophthalmology. Moreover, she is also the standing committee member of the Women in Ophthalmology of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO).

She has many national and international publications as well as presentations and she is also a Cochrane and eye and vision reviewer.

It is very difficult to balance between work and the family life, however, being motivated, as well as being confident make women much stronger. It is equally important to look after yourself first as women in order to bring positivity in whatever we do. Being a devoted “Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow”, she believes in bringing smiles amongst the poor and deprived population of the society.