Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan is a name that is etched in the field of contact lens practice in India. Fondly remembered as Dr. Raji, with two decades of experience in the field of contact lens (CL) and international acclaim, she had been a trendsetter in various innovations in CL practice and specialty CL practice in India. In her fond memory, Sankara Nethralaya initiated “Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Contact Lens Oration” on her birthday, September 9 since 2020.
On September 9, 2022, the third Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Scientific Session took place virtually and featured keynote addresses and research presentations in the area of contact lenses. This time, we had eminent national and international speakers addressing on Scleral Lens Practice in India by Optom Prasad Sawant, Sawant optometry clinic, Case-based approach in Scleral Lens Fitting by Dr. Maria Walker, University of Houston, Contact lens solutions and materials: concepts to minimize Contact Lens Discomfort (CLD) by Dr. Lakshman Subbaraman, Associate Director, Alcon and Eye Print PRO -Impression technology in Scleral lens by Prof Christine Sindt, University of Iowa. The response and the feedback that was received for each talk were remarkable.
There were oral scientific presentations, e-posters, and scientific reviews presented by many delegates from across the country. Apart from the contests on photo/video, a quiz on contact lens for the optometry students was initiated for the first time. Judges from India and abroad including Dr. Anitha Arvind, Dr. Rashima A, Dr. Pradipto Bhattacharya, Dr. Jaya Sownjanya Reddy, Optometrist Irene Sophia, and Optometrist Jothibalaji evaluated the entries. The event was attended by the President of the Medical Research Foundation Dr. Girish S. Rao, Dr. N. Anuradha, Principal of Elite School of Optometry and Dr. A Rashima, Head of Occupational Optometry services, Optom S Madhumathi, In charge of the Contact Lens at Sankara Nethralaya and the entire department of the contact lens.
Cash prizes were announced to the award winners in each category and the details of the winners are listed below
| Award winners | |
| Quiz Team | Manipal college of health Professionals |
| MS Nirmal Ghalley | |
| Mr Kareem S | |
| Ms Rinzin Wangmo | |
| Photography | Mr.Vigneshwar A G M.Optom,Elite School of Optometry,SASTRA university |
| Scientific Article Review | Mr.Krishna Shah (M.Optom, The Sankara Nethralaya Academy, MGR university) |
| E-Poster | Ms. Karpagavalli S (Senior Optometrist-Dept.of Contact Lens, Sankara Nethralaya) |
| Oral Presentation | Ms.Vanessa Barnes (Contact Lens Fellow, The Sankara Nethralaya Academy) |
A brief on the Department of Contact Lens
During the Years 2020-2022
- Seen nearly 15,000 cases, including Specialty contact lens cases,
- Trained about 5 Fellowship students and 8 Postgraduates from the department of Contact lenses.
- About 10 peer-reviewed journal publications
- 3 optometrists Received FIACLE status (Fellowship in the International Association for Contact Lens Educators)
- Received Prestigious IACLE Travel Award – 2022