Dr Tony Fernandez, a doyen in Indian Ophthalmology, began his professional career in India after his post graduate training in the U.K. in 1965. After working at Madurai for more than 4 years he joined the Little Flower Mission Hospital at Angamaly - a village in those times - in Kerala.
His free eye camps and corneal transplantation surgeries led the hospital to scale new heights of popularity. He also initiated new surgical procedures like Intra ocular Implants, refractive surgeries, and a number of the latest treatment modalities for the first time in South India, making the hospital a centre of excellence.
He had the privilege of holding prestigious positions such as Editor of the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, President of the All India Ophthalmological Society, Executive member of the Medical Council of India and Medical Director of Little Flower Hospital.
He is also the recipient of many awards – Padma Shree from the Indian President Pratibha Patil, the B.C. Roy award by the ‘Medical Council of India’ from President Dr K.R. Narayanan, and the title of “Chevalier” - the highest Papal honour – by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
After retirement he established a multispecialty Eye Hospital at Aluva, Kerala, which is now run by his son – Dr Freddy T. Simon - a senior ophthalmologist