It came as a feather in the cap for an institution in the forefront of embracing medical and non medical technology and constantly improvising and innovating its ophthalmic and non ophthalmic processes to find solutions to emerging ophthalmic challenges and enhance quality, reach, speed and convenience in dispensing eye care, when Google the global technology and communication giant engaged in the pursuit of solutions to social and humanitarian issues chose the institution as its preferred partner in developing an Algorithm to detect diabetic retinopathy a major ophthalmic issue threatening to deprive the vision of millions around the world and macular oedema caused due to myriad contributory factors, a condition which could lead to permanent vision loss if not detected and treated early. The collaboration involved conducting real time validation of the deep learning algorithms and implementation of the same.

Senior Ophthalmologists from the institution provided the vital ophthalmic/biological inputs in terms of markers/indicators to the Google team who leveraged artificial intelligence, exhaustive neural networks and complex mathematical systems to develop a deep learning algorithm which can detect diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema with amazing accuracy, speed and perfection. The algorithm was put to real time test at the Sankara Nethralaya’s main campus at Chennai and at Thailand and its findings were evaluated by a team of senior ophthalmologists. It was a moment of great jubilation for the Google-SN team involved in the exercise when the specialists adjudicated the accuracy of the findings as being on par or even superior to findings by a qualified ophthalmologist. The institution credited with landmark technical innovations like developing and implementing one of the earliest Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems, the DNA macro chip in ophthalmology, internet aided tele-ophthalmology camps and the one of its kind in Asia Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU) will now be leveraging this most advanced screening algorithm combining exhaustive neural networks and complex mathematical systems to detect diabetic retinopathy.

Encouraged by the success of the DR detecting algorithm the Google-Sankara Nethralaya team is now working on developing a similar algorithm to detect the progression of diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema.

Sankara Nethralaya joined hands with the Nethra Sevak Sangh (NSS) cadre at the Dwaraka Doss Vaishnav Doss college, known for their commitment and service to social causes, to drive home the critical message of ‘Eye Donation’ as part of its city wide celebration of ‘National Eye Donation Fortnight’ (August 25^th to Sept 8^th). The event witnessed in-depths talks on the various facets of eye donation by senior members of the institution including Mr SVG Subramanian, Senior Manager Administration, gracing the occasion as the chief guest, Mr Hari babu, Manager-CU Shah Eye bank and Mr Ganeshan, Principal, DG Vaishnav College. An entertaining and informative skit by the students, dispelling myths and highlighting facts of eye donation followed by a vibrant exhibition of youth power in terms of a rally with participants holding aloft placards espousing the day’s theme and raising their voice for its cause followed by a most artistic assembly of students in the formation of the human eye were the key highlights of the event.

The exciting awareness creation exercise culminated with distribution of certificates to the participants and a heartfelt vote of thanks by Mr Janakiraman, Social Worker at the CU Shah Eye Bank, Sankara nethralaya

‘Ocular Imaging’ in its broad sense could possibly be cited as the most significant advancement in the clinical evaluation of ophthalmic diseases. The versatile and highly advanced nature of this technology enables the ophthalmologist to ascertain a host of critical parameters like dimension, thickness, qualitative and quantitative measures, values and micron level changes which makes its role critical in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of the entire gamut of retinal diseases. It was a significant forward step for Sankara Nethralaya, an institution in constant pursuit of acquiring the latest ophthalmic technology, know-how, skill sets and hands on training when Dr Aditya Verma, Senior Consultant, Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Vitreo-retina services, located at its main campus in Chennai, was conferred with a Fellowship in this most niche area by one of the foremost ophthalmic institutions in the world. Dr Aditya Verma completed a most eventful and exciting year (2018) pursuing research in ‘Ocular Imaging’ both as a technology and process in all its manifestations at the Doheny Eye Centre, University of California, Los Angeles, at the end of which his knowledge and skills in the field were acknowledged by awarding of a ‘Fellowship’. He also gained rich experience in Medical Retina at the UCLA clinic where he was involved in patient management as well as treatment.

The exposure and learning of emerging diagnostic modalities involved gaining experience in newer technologies like ultra wide field (FFA&ICT/Color Fundus), OCT angiogram, (spectral domain OCT) which would prove to be a great value addition to the institution’s endeavours in diagnosis and treatment of patients. It is noteworthy to mention here that the Fellowship provided Dr Aditya Verma the hands on skills in working in some of the top global brands like Zeiss, Topcon, Optos etc and machines and processes which are still at an experimental stage in clinical practice, as some of them are awaiting FDA approval.

The Sankara Nethralaya family expresses its hearty congratulations to Dr Aditya Verma on being awarded a Fellowship in such a niche area by a non-profit, service oriented ophthalmic institution with a standing of more than 70 years, an institution not only considered to be among the foremost in the world in clinical research and medical education but also one which shares Sankara Nethralaya’s service orientation through its philosophy of conservation, improvement and restoration of human eyesight and wishes him many more significant milestones in his pursuit of knowledge.

Endophthalmatis could be the nightmare of a surgeon performing any intraocular intervention, occurrence of this painful and highly infectious condition has been found to be higher in cases of Keratoprosthesis than other surgical processes. Hence it is a matter of great pride and joy to the SN family that an audio visual presentation demonstrating the successful overcoming of this daunting and highly prevalent challenge by a team of Consultants from the Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Department of Vitroretinal Services, being recognized with one of the most coveted awards in the world of Retina, at one of the most prestigious topical meets.

We take great pleasure in sharing that the video on the above titled ‘Salvaging an eye with endophthalmatis and permanent Keratoprosthesis’ prepared jointly by Dr Ekta Rishi and Dr Pukhraj Rishi was awarded the ‘Rhett Buckler Award’ considered as the Oscar of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS). The award assumes special significance because video presentations at the annual ASRS meet assume the scale of participation and competition on par with a film festival and high emphasis is given to clarity of image and presentation, flow and narration as much as to the depth of knowledge/skills shared.

It was a moment of triumph and joy to the SN family when Dr Ekta Rishi consultant at its Bhagwan Mahavir department held aloft the highly impressive 8 pound 24 carat gold plated, Oscar like statuette at the 37^th Annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) held at the Hyatt Regency, Chicagoi, Illinois, on the 30^th July 2019, to the thundering applause of the select audience from the across the world. The Sankara Nethralaya family conveys its hearty congratulations and good wishes to Dr Ekta Rishi and Dr Pukhraj Rishi for this high honour conferred on their impactful demonstration of overcoming a most challenging condition in VR surgery and wishes them many more achievements and accolades in their professional journey.