Dr. Ritu Arora

About

What kind of eye specialist are you?

I am an Anterior Segment Surgeon but Cornea is my chosen area of specialisation.

What are your areas of interest in Anterior Segment?

My areas of interest are Keratoconus, Corneal infections, Full thickness corneal transplants, Endothelial transplants, Anterior Lamallar Keratoplasty (DALK), Ocular Surface Reconstructions especially post chemical burns, Limbal Transplants, Dry Eye, Immune mediated corneal disorders, Dry Eye, Collagen Cross linking, Paediatric keratoplasty & Refractive Surgery

What inspired you to choose ophthalmology?

I was interested in a surgical speciality and not willing to let go off my internal medicine knowledge. Ophthalmology fulfilled both the criteria. Microsurgery fascinates me.

Where did you study?

I did my MBBS and MD (ophthalmology ) from AIIMS. I joined Guru Nanak Eye Center after this and completed gave my Dip National Board from NAMS in 1988 and FRCOphthal in 2021. I’ve trained in Cornea diagnostics and advanced surgery from Will’s Eye Hospital Philadelphia and University of Toronto Canada. I’ve also further trained in lamellar corneal surgery at Devers Eye Institute and University of Iowa.

Other Achievements?

I was Dean of Maulana Azad Medical College from February 2021 to December 2022. I have also been the Director of Guru Nanak Eye Centre. With a keen interest in academics and research, I have 130 publications in indexed peer reviewed journals, written around 10 chapters in medical textbooks and a principal investigator in 12 National & International Trials. Currently, I am also an examiner for the Fellow of Royal College of Ophthalmologists. A regular faculty and chair at medical conferences, I have given more than 350 presentations on National and International forums and won many awards. In 2010, I also received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Achievement Award.

Links to some academic work:

Betharia SM, Arora R, Kumar S. Comparative evaluation of Jones pyrex tubes and polyethylene tubes in conjunctivo-dacryocystorhinostomy. Indian J Ophthalmol. 1988 Oct-Dec;36(4):162-4. PMID: 3253211. https://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=1988;volume=36;issue=4;spage=162;epage=164;aulast=Betharia Arora R, Panda A, Kumar H. Lamellar sclerokeratoplasty of epibulbar tumor in xeroderma pigmentosum. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1990 Mar-Apr;27(2):80-3. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19900301-07. PMID: 2348314. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2348314/ Arora R, Gupta S, Taneja M, Raina UK, Mehta DK. Disposable contact lenses in penetrating keratoplasty. CLAO J. 2000 Jul;26(3):127-9. PMID: 10946982. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10946982/ Chauhan D, Arora R, Das S, Shroff D, Narula R. Bilateral periorbital necrotizing fasciitis following exposure to Holi colors: a case report. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2007 Sep-Oct;55(5):373-4. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.33824. PMID: 17699947; PMCID: PMC2636027. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2636027/ Shroff D, Mehta DK, Arora R, Narula R, Chauhan D. Natural history of macular status in recent-onset branch retinal vein occlusion: an optical coherence tomography study. Int Ophthalmol. 2008 Aug;28(4):261-8. doi: 10.1007/s10792-007-9123-0. Epub 2007 Aug 1. PMID: 17668149. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17668149/ Arora R, Gupta D, Goyal JL, Jain P. Results of corneal collagen cross-linking in pediatric patients. J Refract Surg. 2012 Nov;28(11):759-62. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20121011-02. PMID: 23347368. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23347368/ Arora R, Manudhane A, Saran RK, Goyal J, Goyal G, Gupta D. Role of corneal collagen cross-linking in pseudophakic bullous keratopathy: a clinicopathological study. Ophthalmology. 2013 Dec;120(12):2413-2418. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.07.038. Epub 2013 Aug 14. PMID: 23953101. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23953101/ Arora R, Jain P, Goyal JL, Gupta D. Comparative Analysis of Refractive and Topographic Changes in Early and Advanced Keratoconic Eyes Undergoing Corneal Collagen Crosslinking. Cornea. 2013 Oct;32(10):1359-64. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e3182a02ddb. PMID: 23974893. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23974893/ Goel R, Arora R, Shah S, Chhabra M, Kumar J, Khurana N, Gupta S, Khanam S, Kumar S, Singh S, Meher R, Thakar M, Garg A. Clinico-Radiological-Pathological Correlation of Visual Loss in COVID-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2022 May-Jun 01;38(3):242-249. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000002112. Epub 2022 May 11. PMID: 34919070; PMCID: PMC9093237. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34919070/ Arora, Ritu. (2018). Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty or penetrating keratoplasty in lattice corneal dystrophy. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 66. 673. 10.4103/ijo.IJO_393_18. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324663466_Deep_anterior_lamellar_keratoplasty_or_penetrating_keratoplasty_in_lattice_corneal_dystrophy Arora R. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty or penetrating keratoplasty in lattice corneal dystrophy. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2018 [cited 2023 Apr 15];66:673-4. https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2018/66/5/673/230678 Arora R, Goel R, Loomba P, Khanam S. Steroid-induced Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis outbreak. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2022 Jan 1;48(1):113-115. doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000673. PMID: 34016823. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34016823/ Arora R, Goel R, Khanam S, Kumar S, Shah S, Singh S, Chhabra M, Meher R, Khurana N, Sagar T, Kumar S, Garg S, Kumar J, Saxena S, Pant R. Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral-Mucormycosis During the COVID-19 Second Wave in 2021 - A Preliminary Report from a Single Hospital. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021 Aug 17;15:3505-3514. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S324977. PMID: 34429582; PMCID: PMC8380130. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34429582/ Arora R, Gupta P, Sahu J, Jain P, Vishwanath S, Shroff R. Analysis of Corneal Scheimpflug Densitometry and Ocular Wavefront Aberrations Post Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty. Eye Contact Lens. 2022 Jun 1;48(6):242-249. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000868. Epub 2021 Nov 25. PMID: 34860724. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34860724/ Arora R, Goel R, Meher R. Outcome of COVID-19-Associated Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022 May 1;140(5):548. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0618. PMID: 35389467. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35389467/ Ruchi Goel, Shalin Shah, Gangadhara Sundar, Ritu Arora, Swati Gupta, Tamanna Khullar, Orbital and ocular perfusion in thyroid eye disease, Survey of Ophthalmology, 2023,ISSN 0039-6257. href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.01.003.

What do you do when you’re not at work?

I am a practicing Buddhist. I also enjoy gardening & reading.

Favourite quote

“Do your best to leave the world wiser than you found it”