The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) honoured Dr Gullapalli N Rao, founder and chairman of L V Prasad Eye Institute with its "Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award". This award was bestowed on him in recognition of the eye care delivery model he created with the Institute and his contributions to prevention of blindness globally. The award was presented to Dr Rao at the AAO’s annual meeting in New Orleans.

LVPEI’s model of eye care, represented by a pyramid, emphasizes the creation of sustainable permanent facilities within communities, staffed and managed by locally trained human resources, and linked effectively with successively higher levels of care.

Dr Rao was also the recipient of "International Prevention of Blindness Award" of the Academy.