August 2024
Sankara Nethralaya Launches Sankara Nethralaya Elite School of Optometry (SNESO) in Kolkata
The grand event took place at the Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residencies on August 24, 2024. The Honorable Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Shri Biman Banerjee, inaugurated the college. The event was honored by the presence of Shri Dr. Partha Pratim Lahiri, Registrar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology; and Shri Basudeb Banerjee, Former Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal.
Almost 40 years ago, on September 17, 1985, the Elite School of Optometry (ESO) was established in Chennai as the first modern school of optometry in India to offer a four-year professional degree program. The vision of the great founder of Sankara Nethralaya, Padma Bhushan Late Dr. S. S. Badrinath, has made the Elite School of Optometry a testament to excellence in optometric education, research, clinical practice, and community outreach. Building on this strong foundation, ESO has now opened its first branch in Kolkata.”
The SNESO is set to provide cutting-edge facilities and a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for the evolving demands of the optometry field. SNESO will offer 30 seats for the Bachelor of Optometry programme from the current academic year in its New Town, Kolkata campus. With admissions currently underway, classes are scheduled to commence in September 2024.
Sankara Nethralaya Opens New Modular OT Complex in JKCN
Sankara Nethralaya has officially opened its new Modular OT complex, located on our JKCN campus’ 2nd floor, HTP block, as of August 22, 2024 with an official pooja. This state-of-the-art facility marks a milestone in Sankara Nethralaya’s commitment to delivering exceptional ophthalmic care and addressing the evolving needs of both patients and staff.
Constructed in just five months, the new Modular OT complex includes three additional operating theatres dedicated to anterior segment surgeries. This expansion is set to alleviate the previous shortage of full-day OT slots, thus supporting consultants in providing more specialized care. Operations in the new OT complex are expected to be started in the first week of September.
The new facility falls in line with the latest advancements in hospital design, aiming to enhance operational efficiency while minimizing disruption to ongoing services.
The Mahyco Block OT complex in our Padma Bhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus, a cornerstone of Sankara Nethralaya since 1991, conducted its final surgeries on August 24, 2024.
Sankara Nethralaya extends its gratitude to the donors who played a crucial role in the construction of this new OT complex. Their support has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
The new Modular OT complex is anticipated to enhance surgical capabilities and patient care, marking an important milestone in Sankara Nethralaya’s journey.
Sankara Nethralaya Hosts 5th Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Scientific Session
Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan, affectionately known as Dr. Raji, remains a distinguished name in the field of contact lens practice in India. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades, she gained international recognition for her pioneering contributions to contact lens innovations and specialty practices in the country. In 2020, Sankara Nethralaya established the “Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Contact Lens Oration” on her birthday, September 9.
The 5th Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Scientific Session was held on August 17th and 18th, 2024. The event started with an online quiz competition designed for optometry undergraduates. The online quiz contest saw enthusiastic participation from around 14 optometry colleges, with students actively engaging in the competition. The quiz was conducted by Ms. Varsa Harinya, Mr. Krishna Shah, Mr. Ronit Dutta, and CL postgraduate and fellowship students Mr. Sayak and Mr. Mrityunjoy.
The following day keynote speeches and research presentations focused on contact lenses were featured, with more than 150 registrations from optometry students, faculty, and contact lens practitioners from various parts of the country. Dr. Girish Shiva Rao, President and Executive Medical Director of the Medical Research Foundation and Dr. N. Anuradha, Principal of Elite School of Optometry shared fond memories of Dr. Raji. This year, the session was graced by the presence of Ms. Lakshmi Shinde, CEO of the Optometry Confederation of India, who delivered the keynote address on “Contact Lens Fitting Approach in Ectatic Cornea.” This was followed by a case-based learning session by the SN CL Team, showcasing various types of contact lens fittings for ectatic cornea, complemented by impressive videos and clinical images presented by Ms. Akshaya Balakrishnan, Mr. Ronit Dutta, and Ms. S. Karpagavalli.
The scientific session featured 12 oral presentations from different optometry colleges, which were evaluated by Ms. Lakshmi Shinde and Dr. Rashima Asokan, Head of Occupational Optometry Services at Sankara Nethralaya.
New contests introduced this year, such as the E-poster and Poster Slam Contest on “What Best I Did for My Patient,” were well received by participants. The judging panel was composed of esteemed professionals including Mr. Yeshwant Saoji, Mr. Prasad Sawanth, and Dr. Rashima Asokan.
An interactive session on “Various Contact Lens Options for Myopia Control,” presented by Ms. S. Madhumathi, was followed by a brief talk on Orthokeratology by Ms. Manju, along with a live demonstration of Ortho-K lenses by Ms. Madhumathi, Ms. Manju, Mr. Krishna Shah, and Ms. Varsa Harinya. The session concluded with insightful presentations on Orthokeratology and Scleral Lenses by V Square Medi Solutions and Global OK Vision.
The event also honored outstanding participants with several awards:
- Best Oral Presentation: Ms. Sindhu Vaishnavi from The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) and Ms. P. V. Gayathri from SRM Medical College.
- Best Scientific E-Poster: Ms. Diksha Rathi from The Sankara Nethralaya Academy.
- Best Scientific Photography: Mr. Sanjay Ghoia and Mr. Kamalesh from Sankara College of Optometry.
- Best Poster Slam Winner: Mr. Manish Bhagat, Consultant Optometrist, LVPEI.
- Scientific Quiz Winner: Vidyasagar School of Optometry and Vision Science, Kolkata.
- Rapid Fire Quiz Winner: Mr. Sunny Kant from The Sankara Nethralaya Academy.
- Overall, the session was met with high appreciation, sparking numerous stimulating discussions and receiving positive feedback from delegates. It was truly an inspiring and productive event, befitting the legacy of Dr. Raji.
Independence Day 2024 Celebrations at Sankara Nethralaya: Recognizing Excellence and Dedication
The Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus at Sankara Nethralaya was abuzz with excitement as the 78th Independence Day was celebrated with a special awards ceremony recognizing the outstanding contributions of its staff. The event, held at 7:45 AM, was graced by the presence of Dr. V. Thiruppugazh IAS (Retd.), Former Additional Secretary NDMA and Chairman, Advisory Committee for Mitigation of Floods in Chennai, as the chief guest, who also hoisted the flag.
The following awards were presented during the celebration:
Outstanding Performances: Women
Gold Medal: Ms. Kavitha B, Manager, Fund Raising
Silver Medal: Dr. Rashima A, Incharge, Occupational Optometry Services
Outstanding Performances: Men
Gold Medal: Mr. Arumugam D, Incharge, Transport Department
Silver Medal: Mr. Hajakamal Y, Junior Executive, Civil & Electrical Services Department
Best Department Awards
Gold Award: Civil & Electrical Services Department
Silver Award: Department of Biomedical Engineering
Special recognition was given to Dr. Bhaskaran from Internal Medicine, who has been with Sankara Nethralaya for an extraordinary 45 years.
Long service awards were presented to several dedicated employees:
35 Years: Dr. Vijaya L (Glaucoma), Ms. Usha V (Medical Transcription), Mr. Krupanandam A (Outpatient Services)
30 Years: Dr. Lingam Gopal (Vitreoretina), Dr. Muna Bhende (Vitreoretina), Ms. Sreedevi C G (Academics), Ms. Vijayalakshmi A (General Optometry), Ms. Mahalakshmi Saravanavelu (Operation Theatre), Ms. Revathi Selvam (Operation Theatre), Ms. Sasikala S (Operation Theatre), Ms. Uma Maheswari T J (Operation Theatre), Ms. Sharmila O V (Operation Theatre)
Additionally, 37 employees were honored for 25 years of service, 6 for 20 years, 17 for 15 years, and 14 for 10 years.
The Circle of Excellence Award was presented to the Patient Services Department, a recognition instituted by Ms. Sita Mittal, a SWAN volunteer.
A total of 62 employees received rank awards, and 14 children of Sankara Nethralaya employees were presented with merit awards, highlighting the institution’s commitment to nurturing talent both within and beyond the workplace.
The event was a celebration of the tireless efforts and dedication of the entire Sankara Nethralaya team, with Dr. Thiruppugazh’s presence and speech inspiring the attendees.
TSNA Celebrates 11th Graduation Ceremony
The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) celebrated its 11th graduation ceremony, honoring the academic achievements of 59 graduates from the faculties of Optometry, Management Studies, and Medical Lab Technology for the year 2023-2024.
The ceremony took place at the Shri V. D. Swami Auditorium, located within the Sankara Nethralaya Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus in Chennai. The event was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Honorable Tmt. Justice V. Bhavani Subbaroyan, sitting Judge of the Madras High Court.
Also in attendance were Dr. T. S. Surendren, Chairman of the Medical Research Foundation, and Dr. Girish S. Rao, President & Executive Medical Director of the Medical Research Foundation, who congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and wished them success in their future endeavors.