November 2024
Sankara Nethralaya Celebrates Children’s Day and National Myopia Awareness week
Myopia or shortsight is a childhood eye condition that has become increasingly prevalent especially past 20 years due to mostly lifestyle factors like less outdoor activities and more near activities in children. We, at the Department of Peadiatric ophthalmology in Sankara nethralaya celebrated Children’s Day and the National Myopia Awareness week from the 14th to 20th of November. The celebration was inaugurated with a small cake cutting ceremony attended by Chairman Sankara Nethralaya Dr. T. S. Surendran and the Director and Deputy Directors of the Peadiatric department Dr. Sumita Agarkar and Dr. Kavitha Kalaivani. The team comprising of Peadiatric ophthalmologists and Peadiatric optometrist who cater to Peadiatric eye care conducted weeklong awareness sessions, activities like slogan writing, painting, meme creating competition etc, designed and installed awareness posters and videos highlighting the importance of sunlight exposure and the adverse effects of gadget usage and conducted Q&A sessions for parents about eye health.
Some of the memes and slogans written by the children are “Myopia myopia go away, don’t come again another day!
Myopia myopia go away, little children want to play!” “Every closed eye is not sleeping, every open eye is not seeing! Check your eyes now”
The Q&A sessions addressed issues of general eye health, dietary implications of eye conditions, stigma associated with spectacle usage, peer pressure for children, myths and beliefs related to spectacle usage, creating awareness about misleading and sometimes dangerous non scientific treatment options etc. Over 40 parents participated and benefitted. We hope that this is not limited to this one week and continues to increase awareness to all those involved in child care.
Memorial Service Held for Padma Bhushan Dr. SS Badrinath on His Death Anniversary at Sankara Nethralaya
Chennai, 23/11/2024: The death anniversary of Padma Bhushan Dr. SS Badrinath, the visionary founder of Sankara Nethralaya, was observed with a heartfelt memorial service at the College Road branch of Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai. The event was attended by several eminent personalities, including Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, a founding member of the GOVEL Trust and the driving force behind the Aravind Eye Care System, and N. Ram, Director of THG Publishing Private Limited, the publishing arm of The Hindu Group.
Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, who is known for his pioneering work in the field of ophthalmology and for his significant contributions to eye care, graced the occasion as the chief guest. During his speech he recalled his days with Dr. SS Badrinath when they both were mentored by Dr. Charles Schepens in Boston.
N. Ram, the guest of honour and esteemed journalist, shared his personal reflections on Dr. Badrinath’s life and legacy, highlighting how his dedication to the cause of blindness prevention and eye care transformed countless lives. Recalling his cherished memory with Dr. Badrinath, he said, “A political correspondent, who is very popular but I cannot name him, once came to Sankara Nethralaya for a check-up with Dr. S. S. Badrinath after I recommended the same. After returning from the treatment, he told me, ‘I was seated right next to an auto-rickshaw driver, and Dr. Badrinath treated both of us equally.’
Both speakers captivated the audience with their tributes, reminiscing about Dr. Badrinath’s extraordinary journey and the indelible mark he left on the world of healthcare and social service.
The ceremony was a fitting tribute to Dr. Badrinath’s contributions to the medical community and his influence on Sankara Nethralaya’s mission to provide quality eye care to all.
Kanmanigalin Kangal: Sankara Nethralaya Observes World Prematurity Day
Sankara Nethralaya marked World Prematurity Day with a meaningful program held at the Shri. VD Swami Auditorium on November 20. The event brought attention to the critical importance of early detection and care in pediatric ophthalmology.
The highlight of the evening was an insightful guest lecture by Dr. Rema Chandra Mohan, a renowned expert in the field. Her talk, titled “If Early, How Early,” shed light on the significance of timely interventions for eye health in premature infants, emphasizing how early screenings can prevent life-altering complications.
In addition to the lecture, the institution encouraged active participation from its community by organizing a video contest on pediatric eye diseases. Employees of Sankara Nethralaya, as well as students of the The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TNSA) and the Elite School of Optometry (ESO), and CU Shah Ophthalmic PG Training Center showcased their creativity and awareness through engaging entries.
Ms. S. Madhumathi Honored as IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year for Asia Pacific
We are delighted to share that Ms. S. Madhumathi, Deputy Manager of our Contact Lens Department, has been awarded the “IACLE Contact Lens Educator of the Year” for the Asia Pacific region in 2024 by the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE). The award was presented at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) annual meeting during the International Reception held on November 8th in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. We congratulate Ms. Madhumathi on this remarkable achievement.