Dr Ravi C Bakaraju is the founder and chairman of nthalmic.

Over the years, Dr Bakaraju has co-authored 40+ peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts in the areas of visual optics, optical modelling techniques, presbyopic contact lenses, peripheral refraction, model eyes and general ophthalmic instrumentation. Dr Bakaraju is a lead inventor on several pending patents on vision correction platforms. He has also co-authored about 65+ scientific abstracts. Dr Bakaraju regularly presents at national and international venues.

Dr Bakaraju has been a recipient of numerous international awards for his research accomplishments; which include the notable American Optometric Foundation’s William Ezell Fellowship in 2009; runner-up for 3M Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science in 2014; and the prestigious Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish outstanding young scientist award from the American Academy of Optometry in 2015. He was awarded a distinguished certificate of recognition for outstanding achievements by the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute Alumnus in 2016.

Dr Bakaraju is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), a member of Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), a member of British Contact lens Association (BCLA) and a member of International Society for Contact Lens Research.

Through his conjoint associate professorship at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, he currently supervises PhD candidates. Dr Bakaraju is a voluntary anonymous reviewer for more than a dozen peer-review high-impact factor scientific journals.

Previously, Dr Bakaraju held senior executive roles at Brien Holden as Head of R&D, where he oversaw all the institute’s translational research projects and innovation activities from 2017 to 2019. The R&D team led by Dr Bakaraju developed innovative vision correction solutions that have translated into multiple commercial products.

Dr Bakaraju was educated at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, India (through Bausch & Lomb School of Optometry, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad) graduating with a Bachelors in Optometry and Vision Sciences (2006). He topped his class with outstanding CGPA 9.73/10; he later earned a PhD in Optometry and Vision Sciences, working on a dissertation ‘Optical performance presbyopic contact lenses using schematic and physical model eyes’, from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia in 2010. Following which, he served at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in numerous roles from 2010 to 2019.