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

Evaluation for Special Children

Dr. Linda Lawrence, Paediatric Ophthalmologist from USA visited Sankara Nethralaya on 22nd June 2006.  She was taken on tour of the hospital.  She delivered a talk on "Paediatric Ophthalmology". She is the volunteer for the ORBIS Project, Surgical Eye Expeditions International, Volunteer faculty of the University of Kansas Medical School, USA and on the advisory board of the Kansas Services for the blind and visually impaired. She has also been an instructor for Light House International Paediatric Low Vision Course.  She also conducted a workshop on Evaluation for Special Children at Elite School of Optometry from 20th to 22nd June 2006.

Generous Donation's

Mr. R.C. Parekh, Medical Research Foundation Board Member visited Sankara Nethralaya and made a generous donation to the Institution which was handed over to the Chairman( Elect) Dr. Lingam Gopal in the presence of Chairman Dr S S Badrinath, Mr. V. Vaidyanathan and Col. Raghavan.

Mr. Viral K. Purohit, Trustee and Mr. Nalianbhai Vyas, Vice Chairman of G.H. Bhakta Foundation, Navasari visited Sankara Nethralaya on 20th June 2006.  They were taken on tour of the hosital.  They made a generous donation to the Chairman Dr. S. S. Badrinath.

Shri. S. V. Acharya, Honorary Treasurer, Sanakara Nethralaya OM Trust has contributed a generous amount to the cause of Sankara Nethralaya.

Sony Visits SN

Mr. Yoshitaka Shibasaki, Senior General Manager, Broadcast & Professional Products Division, Sony India Limited, New Delhi and Mr. Ambreesh Dixit, Operation Head - Planning & Marketing, Broadcast & Professional Products Division, Sony India Limited, New Delhi visited Sankara Nethralaya on 14th June 2006.  They had a meeting with the Dr. S. S. Badrinath, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya. They were taken on tour of the Hospital including Teleophthalmology Department.

Sankara Nethralaya's commitment to Rural India - Chapter III

The rural population of India stands at 72.22%. But the number of ophthalmologists living in the rural areas of the country is around 25%.  Adequate eye care therefore remains a dream for many of the people in rural areas.

Sankara Nethralaya stepped into the “Need Gap” in October 2003 with the launch of the Rural Mobile Teleophthalmology Project connecting four districts of North Tamilnadu, this project has brought eye care to the doorsteps.

The 2nd chapter in this rural revolution in Eye care was the launch of the Karnataka Diabetic Retinopathy Project and Rural Mobile Karnataka Teleophthalmology Project in 7th October 2005 covering six districts of Karnataka.

The latest step in this revolution was the launch of Mobile Refraction Van.

Sankara Nethralaya in collaboration with Essilor India Pvt Ltd launched India’s first Mobile Refraction Van on 7th June 2006 at Bellur Village, Nara Sapura Hobli, Kolar Taluk, Karnataka.  This fully equipped mobile refraction van has a clinic with all instruments necessary to carry out an eye examination and dispense spectacles in a matter of few hours at the door step of rural Karnataka. 

Dr. B.K.S. Iyengar, founder of the Bellur Krishnamachar and Seshamma Smaraka Nidhi Trust and Mr. Patrick Cherrier, President Essilor, Asia Pacific was the chief guest.  Prof. S. Chandrashekar Shetty presided over the Inauguration function.  Mr. R.L. Jalappa, MP Felicitated the function.  Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Chairman, Medical Research Foundation, Mr. B. Jayanth, Managing Director, Essilor India, Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, Honorary Secretary & Treasurer, Medical Research Foundation, Mr. B. Raghu, Managing Trustee, Bellur Krishmachar & Seshamma Smaraka Nidhi Trust participated in the function.

Dr. B.K.S. Iyengar, is one of the foremost exponents of yoga in the world.  The method propagated by him - a unique combination of art and science, is being popularly referred to as Iyengar Yoga. Dr. Iyengar, respectfully called Guruji, has travelled all over the world in an effort to propagate the great Indian culture of yoga.

Dr. S. S. Badrinath, speaking on the occasion said, “We believe that this Customer Centric Mobile Refraction Van will set a trend in providing basic eye care services to rural India which accounts for the largest proportion of the Indian population.  Sankara Nethralaya is proud to be associated with this project”.  Commenting on this memorable occasion, Mr. B. Jayanth, said “Essilor is very excited to be working on such an important community eye-care venture.  We are committed to bringing quality eye care in rural areas and are proud to contribute to the development of Karnataka”.