Indian Optometry Federation
November - December 2014
Newsletter ISSUE 22
IOF Asks Government for
Answers under RTI
NEWS & EVENTS
Prof. Brien Holden Receives an
Award
At the recently concluded academy 2014
Denver meeting Prof. Brien Holden, Chief
Mentor of the IOF and CEO of Brien
Holden Vision Institute (Co-Chair, India
Vision Institute) received the prestigious
Charles F. Prentice Medal in recognition
for his advancement of knowledge in
vision science.
IOF Facebook Page Gets Bigger
Under the RTI Act, IOF has sent a series of letters to the government. The first
was sent to ask how much money was spent by the government on the training of
ophthalmologists and optometrists in the 10th, 11th and 12th five year plans. The
amount in the reply was Rs. 53,71,85,000 but it was not clear if that money was
spent on both professions or only on ophthalmology. To make this clear, IOF sent a
follow up letter asking specifically how much of this money was spent on optometry.
Another question that was asked was if this spent money was only spent on ophthalmology then why was none spent on optometry? The letter was sent to Dr. Ritu
Gupta, Assistant Director General, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. IOF is closely monitoring the communication and any new updates
will be present in the next issue of the IOF Newsletter.
The official Indian Optometrist Federation
facebook page now has crossed 3000
likes and the following is growing. This is
because of the continuous support given
by the optometry community. The page is
growing faster than ever and is always up
to date with the latest news from Indian
optometry.
Feel free to join us on facebook by coming
to the page:
https://www.facebook.com/
pages/Indian-OptometryFederation/169403076479348
www.indianoptometryfederation.org
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Indian Optometry Federation
November - December 2014 Newsletter Issue 22
ADVERTISEMENT
IVI-NVG Capacity Building Workshop for NOA at Ludhiana
India Vision Institute (IVI) organized a comprehensive hands-on capacity building workshop for a group of
35 vision care professionals of the National Ophthalmic Association (NOA) at Sankara Eye Hospital, Ludhiana from 01 December to 04 December 2014.
The workshop comprised theory and practical sessions on refraction, dispensing and Optometric diagnostic instruments.
Mr Abhishek Kalbaraga and Mr M Chandra Shekher, IVI, facilitated the workshop covering a range of topics
including essentials of refraction, ophthalmic dispensing, soft skills and entrepreneurship development
and hands on practical sessions.
This is the 5th workshop organized by IVI following an agreement between IVI and New Vision Generation
India Pvt Ltd (NVG) to hold capacity building workshops for ophthalmic officers. The earlier four workshops
were held at Rohtak- Haryana in December 2013 , Trichy- Tamil Nadu in February 2014 , Aurangabad -Maharashtra in August 2014 and Patna -Bihar in October 2014.
IVI acknowledges the support of New Vision Generation India Pvt Ltd.
IVI Online Seminar Series – 05 December 2014
An online seminar on ‘Evidence Based Glaucoma Practice-Role of Optometry’ was presented by Dr.
Ramesh S.Ve, Associate Professor at School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University. Over 150 students from optometry institutions across the country attended the seminar online.
Twelfth in the IVI Online Seminar Series, the seminar is being offered in two sessions. The first seminar
conducted on 5 December focused on understanding glaucoma, definitions and classification, comprehensive ophthalmic examination, epidemiology of glaucoma, and the ISGEO classification.
“Starting from the basics made the B.Optom 3rd semester students oriented to the glaucoma topic which
they are about to study. Dr. Ramesh S.Ve with his experience in this field is the right person to talk about
the role of an Optometrist. Practice management, treatment modalities and the updates of newer management techniques can be included to the next session.”- Mr. Phani Krishna Athreya, Assistant Professor,
Amity University, Gurgaon
Funding for the program was kindly provided by ‘Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation’ in association
with ‘Optometry Giving Sight’
www.indianoptometryfederation.org
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Indian Optometry Federation
November - December 2014 Newsletter Issue 22
New Pamphlet by the Optometry Council
of India
Here are a few parts of the new pamphlet made by the
Optometry Council of India. The pamphlet clearly defines
the role of OCI in the development of Indian Optometry.
www.indianoptometryfederation.org
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Indian Optometry Federation
November - December 2014 Newsletter Issue 22
Knowledge Fest - 2015
Knowledge Fest 2015 will be organized
at Le Meridian, on 2nd, 3rd and 4th of
February 2015. This is an event, beneficial for practicing optometrists, opticians
and final year students who are transitioning from being a students to being a
practitioners.
This unique conference will be having
talks from Invited speakers who are
experts in their respective fields and will
be talking on topics that are relevant to
Optometry and Optical practices.
In the first two days there will be a plethora of eminent speakers sharing their
knowledge, wisdom and experience.
The last day will be dedicated to workshops that will enhance practical skills
and help the attendees apply the newly
acquired knowledge and skills into their
practice immediately.
names in Optometry field in India. In addition, as a part of this conference The
British Contact Lens Association (BCLA)
is also having a clinical session for the
first time in India.
Please visit:
www.masterclassoptometry.com for
more details and to register.
The conference is supported by big
AIIMS Proposes Name Change for
Ophthalmic Technicians
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has proposed to change
the name of some posts in the ophthalmology department. One of the most
important of these is for optometry.
Currently optometrists have been
employed at AIIMS under the name of
ophthalmic technicians. This has been
a big hurdle for the growth of optometry
as the names of the posts at AIIMS are
taken as the stand of the government
of India. In a recent proposal, AIIMS
has changed the name of ophthalmic
technicians to optometrist. The three
new names for posts are Optometrist,
Superintendent Optometrist and Chief
Optometrist.
of the designation of optometrist all over
the country.
The full notice can be read at:
http://www.aiims.edu/aiims/notices/Proposed%20amendments%20
in%20the%20Recruitment%20
Rules_27_11_14.pdf
If approved, this will result in unification
www.indianoptometryfederation.org
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Indian Optometry Federation
November - December 2014 Newsletter Issue 22
Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital Celebrates
100 years
With 2014 is the 100th anniversary of Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (Dr SCEH). To make the year even more special, the
Optometry department of Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (Dr SCEH) organized a CME called “OPTOPACK-2014” {Package of
Practical Optometry} on Sunday December 7th, 2014, at Conference Hall at Dr SCEH.
The CME provided an opportunity for the students and practicing optometrists to listen, meet and interact with the front runners
in the field of optometry. It also provided a platform for further enhancement of practical skills through basic workshop and
interactive sessions.
The event consisted of sessions on Practical aspects of Optometry and hands on workshop that further increased the education
quotient of this program.
India Vision Institute organizes successful
vision walk in Chennai
To raise awareness for the need to
eradicate
preventable
blindness,
actress Khusboo was joined by over 300
children, opinion makers and high-level
dignitaries in a poignant beach walk at
Elliot’s Beach, Chennai on November
9, 2014. Organized for the first time in
Chennai by India Vision Institute (IVI),
the Walk in the Dark also drew attention
on the importance of timely corrective
action to avoid deterioration in vision and
thus, declining productivity at the work
space. “I See and I Learn” an initiative
to provide glasses to under privileged
school children was also launched.
Speaking on the occasion, Vinod Daniel,
IVI CEO said that the over-whelming
response to the walk has been highly
encouraging. He was confident that the
message of eradicating preventable
blindness would receive wide publicity
through the support and assistance of
various stake-holders and civil society.
‘The productivity gains would be
enormous and far-reaching,’ he said,
emphasizing that its impact would be
directly felt on India’s GDP especially
with over ten crore Indians needing a pair
of glasses but not being able to access it.
To know more about IVI and willing to
associate with the activities of IVI may
visit www.indiavisioninstitute.org or write
to [email protected].
www.indianoptometryfederation.org
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Indian Optometry Federation
November - December 2014 Newsletter Issue 22
Australia Expands Support for Eye Care in
South India
The Australian Consulate-General in
Chennai announced its support to
expand a vision screening program for
disadvantaged school children currently
conducted in Chennai to seven other
cities in South India.
The announcement was made during
the visit of the Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Patrick Suckling, to
the Government AdiDravidar Welfare
Higher Secondary School at Palavakkam, Chennai. Mr Suckling was at the
school to inspect the vision screening program funded by the Australian
Consulate-General in Chennai and to
distribute free spectacles to children
suffering from refractive errors.
The vision screening program, supported through a grant from the ConsulateGeneral’s Direct Aid Program is being
led by the India Vision Institute (IVI)
- a joint initiative of the LV Prasad Eye
Institute of Hyderabad and Brien Holden
Vision Institute in Sydney, Australia.
Under the program around 4000 disadvantaged children between the ages of
4 and 15 years from selected schools in
Chennai and its suburbs will have their
vision screened and students diagnosed
with refractive errors will be provided
free spectacles to reduce the prevalence
of visual impairment.
technological development in Indian
optometry to advance capacity in vision
correction and prevention of blindness.
IVI has recently launched a national
campaign: “Eye See I Learn” to provide
spectacles to disadvantaged school
children.
In addition to Chennai, the project will
now be rolled out to socioeconomically
disadvantaged children in Coimbatore,
Kanyakumari, Puducherry, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Calicut and Cochin. A
total of nearly 4200 school children will
have their vision screened in these cities
over the next year.
IVI is focused on supporting and promoting awareness, research, education and
Membership to IOF is now open. Please visit:
www.indianoptometryfederation.org/attachments/Indian-Optometry-Federation-Membership-Form-V2.pdf
Find us on Facebook at:
Visit
www.facebook.com/pages/Indian-Optometry-Federation/169403076479348
Or by searching for Indian Optometry Federation
IOF acknowledges support from
Members of Indian Optometry Federation
The Indian Optometry Federation is a national
registered body having membership of most
registered Optometry Associations from various
Indian States, and also of National Ophthalmic
Associations. The Federation is a united voice for
Indian optometry and represents approx. 40 000
optometrists serving in Government, private and
independent organizations.
Associate Members
Indian Optometric Association
National Ophthalmic Association
Delhi Optometrists Association (Under
Consideration)
Eastern India Optometric Association
Graduate Optometrist Association
Government Optometrists Association
Haryana Ophthalmic Assistant’s Association
Ophthalmic Association
Optometric Association of India
Optometrist Society
Optometry Association, UP
Optometry Counsel of India (Under
Consideration)
Punjab Ophthalmic Officer’s Association
West Bengal Association of Optometrists
Tamil Nadu Govt Ophthalmic Assistants
Association
Diploma Optometrist Welfare Foundation
Mailing address
IOF, A-10/12 ,Vasant Vihar,New Delhi-110057, India Facebook: Indian Optometry Federation
www.indianoptometryfederation.org
For Private Circulation Only
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