She has a Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO) from the University of Mumbai, a Diploma in Ophthalmic Medicine and Surgery (DOMS) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Mumbai and a Post Graduate Diploma in Healthcare and Hospital Management (PGDHHM) from Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, all from India. Dr. Rao is a member of the Emirates Society of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the National Academy of Medical Sciences (MNAMS), India, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and the International Council of Ophthalmology.
She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, FRCS (Glasgow).
Her commitment towards being the best in her chosen field and her thirst for knowledge is evident from the number of training courses she has taken. She completed her Phacoemulsification (suture-less cataract surgery) training from the well-known Bombay City Eye Institute and a short-term observer-ship in Glaucoma at Sankara Nethralaya, a leading ophthalmic institute in India.