omlog: a blog by Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India!

"Happy Birthday, Sir!!"

On behalf of our employees, Dr. K. Ravishankar, Cheif Executive Officier presented a greeting card to our Chairman, signed by our employees on occasion of his birthday on February 24 2006.

"Understanding Roles And Responsibilities Through Values"

A 3 day training program at Mysore:

40 employees of Sankara Nethralaya traveled to Mysore to attend a 3 day training program titled "Understanding roles and responsibilities through values". This program was conducted by the Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE), Mysore. Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE) was founded in 1974. Its efforts in the field of Value Education have won the appreciation of both Central and State Governments in India. The Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, has recognized Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE) as a regional resource center for Education in Human Values.

Situated in about 70 acres of green land, Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE) is a beautiful sprawling campus comprising of class rooms, an auditorium, a select library with 2600 books, a computer training center, a Universal prayer hall, a dining hall etc. This serene place was the setting for the 3 day workshop.

Starting with a group prayer and yogasana on Day 1, the Swamiji's of the ashram took the team through various topics like Management in Action, Art of Communication, Inter-Personal Relationship, Stress Management, Roles & Responsibilities, Service as a way of Life, and Work Ethics.

While talking about Services as a Way of Life, Swamiji said that each human being has to find the divine within themselves. Once they do so, they will be able to appreciate the divine in the other people. He also said that the service that we do to the patients is equivalent to service to God.

The lectures interspersed with yoga sessions, meditation, group prayers and question and answer sessions made the entire program interesting and stimulating to the group. The group was very happy with the opportunity given to them to undergo such an enlightening program. This joy was conveyed by the team to the Chairman on their return from Mysore.

A set of 13 books given by Swami Jitakamananda, Correspondent, Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE) as mark of his regards towards our Chairman was handed over to him.

Our Chairman generously handed over all the books to our Staff library (in Human Resource Department) for our employees to benfit.

Participants of the Mysore Programme shared their experience of the three days programme, "Understanding Roles and Responsibilities through Values" at Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE), Mysore from February 22nd to 24th, 2006.

IT Rained "Oranges" At Sankara Nethralaya!

Our Chairman, Dr. S.S. Badrinath had traveled to the Western region of India last week, to the state  of Maharashtra. With his students spread far and wide, across the globe, Maharashtra was no exception. In Nagpur, he met Dr. Prakash Bawankule, a Vitre-retinal Fellow, who had trained at Sankara Nethralaya. Maharashtra being the "Orange" state of India, Dr. Bawankule presented Dr. S. S. Badrinath with a huge box of them. It therefore rained oranges at the hospital on February 27 when he returned back. Below you can see our Chairman, sharing the largesse with Mr. Sivaraman and Dr. H.N. Madhavan.

On A Lighter Vein!

Guest lecture by Mr. Bosskey in Elite School of Optometry on February 25, 2006.

Put together a creative mind, a multi faceted personality, quick repartees, loads of wit and lots of humor. And behold! An image of Mr. Bosskey will emerge. Mr. Bosskey enthralled the students and staff of the Elte School of Optometry with his talk on February 25, 2006. He addressed the students as a part of the ongoing extramural lectures being arranged at the Elite School of Optometry on the last Saturday of each month.

The lecture by Mr. Bosskey was filled with one-liners and jokes that had the audience in splits. Sri Bosskey, with the sheer dynamism that characterizes him, rushed through the session with witty replies to questions, funny anecdotes, satirical mimicry and a dose of how to approach life.

The experience was a mind-boggling one that brought with it lots of smiles and uninhibited laughter creating a light-hearted atmosphere. Hats off to Sri Bosskey for his joie de vivre!

Special Teleophthalmology Camp At Sri Ahobila Muth

Sankara Nethralaya Teleopthalmology Department conducted a special camp at Sri Ahobila Muth, Selaiyur (near Tambaram), Chennai on February 18, 2006. Swamiji Srimath Azhagiya Singar - 45th Jeeyar Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikan visited the camp spot. The 3rd year students of Elite School of Optometry (unit of Medical Research Foundation) participated in the camp.

152 people - including students of the Muth, their teachers and general public living around the Muth - underwent full eye examination. Of these, 25 people had a teleconsultation with the base hospital for their eye problem. Those who required single vision glasses (glasses only for distance or near vision) recieved their spectacles on the spot through the spectacle-making facility available with the teleophthalmology van.

A heartwarming episode that happened during the camp was the finding of myopia (or short sight) in a small boy for the first time. He was immediately given spectacles and came for the final photo-shoot with the team wearing his brand new spectacles. He sported not just his new spectacles but a broad smile as well! This was possibly the first time he was seeing the world around him clearly!

Grand Rounds On Contact Lens

Ms. Rajeshwari, Senior Optometrist and in-charge of our Contact Lens Department, spoke on February 23 about Bandage Contact Lenses and Complications in Contact Lens Wear. As a key referral centre in the South Asian Region, Sankara Nethralaya, receives a large number of patients with corneal complications. These patients require bandage contact lenses. This topic was therfore of great relevance to the post-graduate ophthalmology and optometry students.

Ms. Rajeshwari spoke about fitting techniques in patients with coreal pathology like bullous keratopathy, corneal ulcer, post - photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) etc. She emphasized the need for all contact lens specialists to keep themselves updated on newer lenses and lens care regimen. She said that knowledge would help them manage their patients effectively.

"Hot Topics & Controversies On Paediatric Anaesthesia"

Dr. Radha Arunkumar, Paediatric Anaesthesiologist, Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston gave a talk on Febraury 17, 2006 on Hot topics & controversies on paediatric anaesthesia. She discussed the anatomical and physiological differences of paediatric patients compared to adults and also about causes for cancellation of day care surgery.

She emphasized on Anaesthesia management of recent upper and lower respiratory tract infections and pre & post operative fasting guidelines. She also said that guidelines for day case surgery and recent drugs like Remifentanyl and Dexmedetomidine for pain management.

Dr. Radha Arunkumar explained in detail about post operative paediatric recovery room management and advantages of having parents with the child in the immediate post operative recovery period. The talk was well appreciated by all.

International Paediatric Ophthalmology Conference

The International Paediatric Ophthalmology Conference held in Sultan Qaboos University, Oman was beamed across to Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai via Video conferencing on February 15th and 16th. Dr. Anuradha Ganesh, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman welcomed the gathering and spoke about the Paediatric Ophthalmology Lectures to follow as part of the conference.

Dr. Crieg Hoyt, Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Director of Beckman Vision Center, University of California, San Francisco talked about "Neurological Basis of amblyopoa". Dr. Hoyt suggested that neuro-transmitters play a role in causing amblyopia and areas IV B1 and areas IV B2 of visual cortex of the brain are affected giving rise to amblyopia. He said that further research was necessary in this field to find a specific treatment for amblyopia. Till then patching would remain the treatment of choice to improve vision.

Dr. Hoyt said, "there is no critical age for treatment of amblyopia as amblyopic eye regains vision after loss of good eye even in adulthood".

He was followed by Dr. Alex Levin, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Co-Director Ocular Genetics Program, Director of Fellowships, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. He spoke on "Genetics of Paediatric cataracts and glaucoma". He discussed the genetics of paediatric cataract and glaucoma associated with systemic diseases like Lowe's syndrome, Wilm's tumor and Axenfield Rieger syndrome.

The next lecture on "Epidemiology and investigation of childhood blindness" was given by Dr. David Taylor, Former Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street hospital for Children, London, UK. This lecture stressed the importance of a good refraction by ophthalmologist in eliminating a major cause of childhood blindness i.e. refractive errors.

Dr. Taylor talked about the importance of examining the patient as a whole, and not just the eye. He also talked about community burden of childhood blindness and importance of screening.

This was followed by a lecture on "Aspects of vertical extra ocular muscle surgery" which was given by Dr. Elisabeth Schulz, Chairperson, Department of Pleoptics and Orthoptics, University Eye Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Basic anatomy and principles of vertical muscle surgery were discussed.

Glaucoma, In Song

Turn your speakers up. The Association of International Glaucoma Studies has a downloadable song on its website called the "Glaucoma Hymn."

We'll excuse you for not singing along.

Via Mark Frauenfelder at Boing, Boing

Dr. Deepak Chopra "New Age Guru"

Mr. Bala V. Balachandran, Honorary Dean of Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) organized a fundraising talk by spiritual guru of well being Dr. Deepak Chopra at Tidel Park auditorium on February 14, 2006. Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya presided over the function. Dr. Vasanthi Badrinath, Mr. T. Rathinam, Mr. G. Shivaraman, Ms. Akila, Dr. G. Kumaramanikavel and Mr. Ramprasadh attended the function.

Dr. Deepak Chopra will soon conduct a course for the executive MBA students of Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), Mr. Bala V. Balachandran, announced. "No programme has evoked this big a response. Speakers like me succeed in reaching the brain. But, he touches the heart and the brain."

Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU)

An advanced research laboratory for  Genotyping and Molecular Genetics is being established at the Jayalakshmi Estates, Haddows road as a unit of the National Institute for Research in Vision sciences and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation.

Towards its progress, Vision Research Foundation today has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Biox Cel Corporation, USA, to explore the advanced research potential of Vision Research Foundation to achieve an Unique Global Status in Ophthalmic Research with a view to make this potential available to research divisions of Research institutes and pharmaceutical and biotechnology Industries.

( Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Mr. V. Vaithyanathan, Dr. Lingam Gopal, Prof. H.N. Madhavan, Mr. Narayanan, Dr. S. Bhaskaran, Mr. Krishnan Nandabalan, president, Biox Cel corporation and Dr. Tarun Sharma)

The 17th CME programme

Department of Genetics and Molecular biology, Vision Research Foundation participated in the workshop on Ophthalmic Genetics: Bench to bedside applications organized by Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Genetics of complex disorders, retinoblastoma and retinal dystrophies along with the importance of genetic counseling were presented and discussed via video conferencing.

Postgraduate students Orientation

Sankara Nethralaya today welcomed the new batch of Postgraduate Ophthalmology students. Seven doctors have joined the Sankara Nethralaya team. The New PG's were welcomed by Dr. K. Ravishankar Chief Executive Officier, Dr. Lingam Gopal, Medical Director and Dr. S. Meenakshi, Associate Consultant.

They were introduced to the history of Sankara Nethralaya through Know Our Nethralaya. Dr. S. Meenakshi gave a brief account of the Orientation Programme of our Institution and the specialties of our Hospital. Mr. Jothi Srinivasan gave a talk on the necessity of Telephone & Paging system. Mrs. Lakshmi & Mrs. Shyamala gave talk on Patient interaction, Admission & Discharge, Duties. Mr. Thiagaraj Thomas explained about Medical Record Department / Coding.

Dr. Rama Rajagopal explained on how to take a case history and how to write the File. Followed this the duty of Eye Donation Doctors gave by Mr. Irungovel. Introductions to Clinical Laboratory, discussion of roster to Main Lab guide through Dr. R. A. Sherren tour of our Library & a Video Presentation on how to give Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation by Mr. Mahesh & Dr. R. A. Sherren.

A Spiritual Evening at Sankara Nethralaya

His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji from Avadhoota Datta Peetham Ashramam, Mysore visited Sankara Nethralaya on 13th February 2006. Swamiji shared information about his ashram and the activities of the ashram. He gave Anugraha bashanam in serene and a simple function organized by Sankara Nethralaya. He also gave blessings and prasadam to the employees.

For more details please read link

Technical Training Session on Teleophthalmology

Technical Training Session on Teleophthalmology at Sankara Nethralaya on 10th & 11th February 2006. Hand on Training was given on video conferencing, software and hardware, mode of conncetivity etc. Technical persons from Bejan Singh Eye Hospital, Nagercovil,Shri Ganapathy Netralaya, Jalna, Eye Foundation, Coimbatore and Vishaka Eye Hospital, Vizag participated in the session.

(Mr. Hanumathran - Vishaka Eye Hospital, Vizag, Mr. Mandalik - Shri. Ganapathy Netralaya, Jalna,Mr. Stephen - Bejan Singh Eye Hospital, Nagercovil, Mr. Kumaraswamy - Eye Foundation, Coimbatore intracting with Mr. Eswaran, Pan communication dealer of Sony Videoconference System)

Accolades for Our Chairman

Our Chairman Dr. S. S. Badrinath, was awarded the "Nayana Shri" award by His Holiness Shri. Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji on the occasion of 25th Tatvajnana Sammelana & Shri. Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji's Amrutha Mahotsava on 6th February 2006. The award was bestowed on him for his yeoman service towards Ophthalmology in India.

Stress Management Programme by Trance Therapy

A program titled "Stress Management Programme by Trance Therapy" was conducted by Dr. Rishie, on 8th January 2006 at Kamaraj Arangam, Chennai. This program which was open to the general public was attended by over 15 people from Sankara Nethralaya. Dr. Rishie conducted a lucky draw during the program, the winner of which would receive two sessions of Trance Therapy and the organization with which the winner is associated would receive one free session on Trance Therapy.

Dr. Angayarkanni Narayanaswamy, Lecturer, Biochemistry Lab, Sankara Nethralaya was the lucky draw winner. As promised a program on "Stress Management Programme by Trance Therapy" was conducted by Dr. Rishie at the premises of Sankara Nethralaya on Sunday, February 5th 2006.

It's Paedriatic month at Sankara Nethralaya!!!!!

Dr. Richard Saunders from STORM EYE INSTITUTE, Charleston, South Carolina, USA visited Sankara Nethralaya as a part of Hospital Based program organized by ORBIS on February 2, 2006. He visited the Paediatric Ophthalmology Department, and along with post-graduate students of Ophthalmology and Optometry examined the children in the department. He discussed the cases in detail with our fellows and clarified all their doubts.

Patients selected for surgery were evaluated. They were operated in the subsequent days by him. The fellows took turns in assisting Dr. Saunders. He visited the post-operative wards and examined patients.

Dr. Saunders also conducted classes for students of Sankara Nethralaya, covering topics of critical importance to children like Ambylopia, Inermittent divergent squint (outward turning of the eye, Congenital Ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid), Visual Evaluation and Prescription of Spectacles in children.

He also conducted a Lecture on Lacrimal disorders in children for all the fellows and post-graduates of Sankara Nethralaya.

Spectra - "An Insight to your perception"

The students of Medical Research Foundation and the Department of Medical Sociology of Sankara Nethralaya, organized an eye and vision care exhibition at Sankara Nethralaya Rural Eye Hospital, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai, on January 28, 2006. The exhibition "SPECTRA" was inaugurated by Mr. C. Sylendra Babu I.P.S., Joint Commissioner of Police. The exhibition was held on 28th and 29th January 2006.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Mr. Sylendra Babu, mentioned that he was impressed to see the interest shown by the students towards community service, particularly to educate the public on eye care and other vision related information. He also showed interest in the concept of eye donation. He appreciated the fact that each stall was organized in a way depicting specific themes on eye care and eye diseases.

Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Chairman, Medical Research Foundation, Dr. Vasanthi Badrinath, Dr. T. S. Surendran, Vice-Chairman, Dr. K. Ravishankar, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. A.P. Irungovel, Manager - Medical Sociology, and Mr. R. Krishna Kumar, Principal, Elite School of Optometry, Unit of Medical Research Foundation also attended the inauguration.

The exhibition was well-attended by the general public, who came in large numbers to see and understand about the eye. Over 1000 visitors came to the exhibition and 100 people underwent free vision screening. The exhibition was arranged with the objective of educating and promoting awareness about the eye and its related problems,amongst the public. The key features of the exhibition included information on refractive errors and spectacle correction, contact lenses, eye infections, visual disorders in children, age related problems like cataract, and glaucoma. It also focused on newer areas like sports vision, eye donation, computer vision syndrome, genes and eyes, and refractive surgery.

A Puppet show and a skit on general eye problems were also staged. The exhibition also disseminated information on eduational courses offered by the institution. A face to face interview with eye specialists for the public was arranged on January 29, 2006 Sunday.