Dr Lingam Gopal completed his medical graduate degree from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam in 1979; MS (Ophthalmology) from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in 1982; Diploma of National Board of Examinations (DNB) in 1984; and FRCS (Edin) in September 2002. He underwent fellowship training in Vitreoretinal surgery between 1984 – 1985 in Medical Research Foundation, a unit of Sankara Nethralaya, where he is currently a senior vitreoretinal consultant. He has published 77 papers in peer reviewed National and International journals and has also written 10 chapters in various ophthalmic books. He has delivered more than 130 lectures at various National and International conferences as an invited guest speaker.

He was awarded Dr Toleti Kanakaraju Shashtipurthi and Dr Rangachari Prize in general surgery by Andhra University. He was given Dr Doshi Gold Medal for best fellow of the year by Medical Research Foundation. He was also awarded S C Dutta Oration Award by West Bengal Ophthalmological Society and Rustom Ranji Oration Gold Medal by Andhra Pradesh State Ophthalmic Association. He is also a recipient of Mr. Punshi award for best researcher by Vision Research Foundation, Chennai and Dr. Vyaghreswarudu Memorial Oration Gold Medal by Andhra Medical College Old students Association, Visakhapatnam. He delivered the Alim Memorial Oration organized by Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka in 2004. He was also awarded Dr Joseph Gnanadhickam Gold Medal oration award by Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association in August 2004. He has received L C Dutta Award from All India Ophthalmological Society in January 2005.