Whitathon 2026, GMR Varalakshmi Campus, Visakhapatnam

L V Prasad Eye Institute’s flagship WHITATHON (Fifth Edition) to Raise Awareness and Funds for Retinoblastoma Treatment held

Visakhapatnam, May 24, 2026– L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) organized the Fifth edition of ‘WHITATHON’ on May 24, to raise awareness about the early detection of Retinoblastoma (eye cancer) in children, and funds for its treatment. The walk was organized from Kali Mandir to YMCA on RK Beach Road, Visakhapatnam. The event commemorates the World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, observed between May 10-16, this year.

Dr Suneetha, Ocular Oncologist at LVPEI’s GMR Varalakshmi Campus in Visakhapatnam spoke on the need to create awareness about the symptoms of retinoblastoma among the public and elaborated, “We must educate the public, especially young parents on retinoblastoma symptoms. If you spot a white pupil reflex in a child’s eye, in a flash photograph, immediately consult an ophthalmologist. Early detection and treatment can save the child’s vision and life.”

Dr Virender Sachdeva, Head – GMR Varalakshmi campus at Visakhapatnam urged everyone present to spread awareness about the symptoms of retinoblastoma. He said, “ If each of us share the awareness we picked up from being a part of Whitathon with the people in our circle of influence, we would make a big difference to ensure cases are detected early and treated enabling us to save vision and life.”

The funds raised from the Whitathon run are utilized to treat underprivileged children suffering from Retinoblastoma at no cost, and to support future research. This year, around 280 enthusiastic participants joined the cause, demonstrating strong community support for the event.

Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that primarily affects children under five years of age.

What causes Retinoblastoma?
Loss of “RB1 gene” – a tumor suppressor gene whose function is to stop cells from turning cancerous.

Symptoms & Signs of Retinoblastoma
Consult a trained ophthalmologist immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in children:
     Leukocoria or “White reflex” (clearly visible in photographs clicked with a flash)
     Squint
     Red Eyes
     Swollen Eyelids
     Enlarged Eyes
The treatment usually involves multiple procedures and surgeries, with close monitoring over several months. From the funds raised through the whitathon, LVPEI has till date offered over 3000 treatments free of cost. 

Annually, the institute treats 150 to 200 new cases of Retinoblastoma across the network. It was possible to save the life of a child in 90% of the cases treated at LVPEI. However, we could save vision in only 45% of these cases. 55% lost their vision because of late presentation.

Early detection and treatment ensure better outcomes for the children.

About Whitathon: Whitathon is LVPEI’s annual cause-related running event aimed at raising awareness and funds for the early diagnosis and treatment of life and vision-threatening Retinoblastoma in children. The event highlights the importance of early detection, as the eye cancer is curable if treated promptly. The signature symptom of Retinoblastoma is a white reflex in the child’s eye, which requires immediate medical attention. White reflex is a white or yellowish-white glow that appears in the pupil (the black part) of a child’s eye when light is shined on it, especially in photos taken with a flash. Other symptoms include poor vision, redness of the eyes and squint eyes. 

Support and Participation: The success of Whitathon is attributed to the overwhelming participation and support from the community, sponsors, and volunteers.

Sponsors:
DSR Prime Spaces
Omega Hospitals

Partners:
Vizag Runners

About LVPEI:  Established in 1987, with the vision,” to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need,” the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a comprehensive eye health institute, is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness.

The LVPEI’s five-tier ‘Eye Health Pyramid’ model, covering all areas of the community right from the villages to the city, provides high quality and comprehensive preventive, curative, and rehabilitative eye care to all. The LVPEI Eye Care Network has 310+ centres across the Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka. It has till date offered over 24 million centre-based services (2 crores 40 lakh services), with more than 50% entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care needed.

For more information, please visit the Institute’s website at www.lvpei.org.

Contact: L V Prasad Eye Institute
Phone: +91 40 6810 2272
Email: aneetha.kanukolanu@lvpei.org
Website: www.lvpei.org