Madurai-based Aravind Eye Hospital opened its first super speciality centre in Chennai on Thursday. It plans to open its next centre at Tirupati by 2018.

The hospital, spread over 5,00,000 sq ft, is equipped with a wide range of sub-specialities in phthalmology.

The centre has 750 beds, with 500 beds dedicated to the underprivileged, who can avail it for free or for subsidised rates.

This is the 12th Aravind Eye Hospital in India. It has presence in other places like Theni, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Puducherry and Salem.