November 2018
Proud moment to share from the Sankara Nethralaya’s Occupational Optometry Services
Dr RashimaAsokan, Assistant Professor – ESO and Optometrist was awarded the Golden Jubilee medal during the 67th state Indian Association of Occupational Health (IAOH), Tamilnadu chapter. The State IAOH has selected the scientific paper titled “Impact of vision correction on the quality of life and productivity among automobile mechanics” presented by Dr Rashima at the National level IAOH conference (OCCUCON2018) held at Pune, 2018. She was awarded the Best paper presented from Tamilnadu.
This research was a part of Vision Correction Impact Study done by the department of Occupational Optometry Services under the able guidance of Dr PP Santanam and Dr R Krishnakumar. The study assessed the impact of vision correction in different occupations among the small-scale industries. The team of occupational optometry services (Dr R Krishnakumar, Dr Rashima, Ms RaajaMaheswari, Ms Dhanalakshmi and Ms Janani) were appreciated by the doctors and the occupational health experts who attended the meeting.
It has given the team an inspiritment to continue the occupational optometry services across all the sectors.
Sankara Nethralaya’s head of Binocular Vision becomes first Indian to be conferred with a ‘Diplomate’ in her niche field by the AAO.
In a development that placed Sankara Nethralaya’s head of Binocular Vision and her institution right at the top slot, the American Academy of Optometry(AAO) the world leader in the field conferred its coveted ‘Diplomate’ in Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatrics on Dr Rizwana, Assistant Professsor, Elite School of Optometry.The high academic recognition comes as yet another major milestone covered and a bright jewel in the crown for a passionate researcher, student,teacher and irrepressible explorer who has such diverse credits as, being chosen by the Department of Education & Training, Australia High Commission, as ‘Australia Award- Endeavour Ambassador’ to spearhead collaborative research and education between the two nations, a Doctorate by the BITS Pilani for her exhaustive paper on ‘Binocular vision care for children’, the clinician who played a pivotal and pioneering role in the creation of TRYe (Train your eye) a first of its kind vision therapy software for amblyopia and the establishment of a ‘Special Children’s clinic’ for children who need special attention and functional assessment, at the Sankara Nethralaya main campus.
With Dr. John Tassinari (chair of the BVPPO section), and Dr. Ronald Gall (One of the examiners)
It was the glorious culmination of an eventful three year journey for Ms Rizwana who enrolled into the Diplomate process at the AAO in 2015, as she was declared a ‘Diplomate in Binocular Vision, Perception, Pediatrics and Optometry’(BVPPO) at San Antonio, on the 8th of November 2018.It is noteworthy to mention here that she was guided by the legendary Dr Mitchell Scheiman, Dean of the Salisbury University. The award highlights the recipient and her institution’s pioneering role in the fields of recognition in the certification and promises to take awareness creation and collaborative learning in these fields to the next level!
The Sankara Nethralaya family expresses its hearty congratulations and puts its hands together for a standing ovation to its dynamic member!
It was a touching moment for the SN family and the winner when Professor Dr B.R.Natarajan an alumnus of BITS Pilani shared her journey and achievements in a passionate one page write-up.
We take great pleasure in sharing the same below
Dr BR Natarajan’s write-up
Jubilation and Joy mark the ‘D’ Day at an institution committed passionately to knowledge dissemination and character building
The 30th Graduation Day of the Elite School of Optometry was celebrated with pomp and pageantry at the VD Swami auditorium to a packed hall of employees and proud parents. The presence of former Chairman of the Medical Research Foundation Shri V.Vaidyanathan, Dr TS Surendran, Vice-Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya, Dr PP Santanam, First Principal of the ESO and one of its greatest well wishers and generous benefactors, Dr Girish Rao and Dr Pramod Bhende, Medical Directors, MRF, Dr Krishna Kumar, Principal ESO, Dr Viswanathan, DGM Optical Services, Dr Anuradha and Dr Rajeswari Mahadevan, faculty members at the ESO, all of them in their ceremonial gown added color to the event, receiving their certificates from the senior members and their role models and listening to their spirited talk made it a memorable graduation ceremony to the students. Speaking on the ocassion Dr Anuradha, Assistant Professor, ESO gave a lively account of her doctoral thesis submission, highlighting the pitfalls and challenges in lighter vein, she utilized the opportunity to give a highly impressive note on the great work being carried out by the ESO in terms of school children screening in terms of both volumes and quality of screening. The day witnessed the awarding of Fellowships, Institutional Awards, Research Awards, Best Optometrist Award, Contribution to Indian Optometry, Best Project award and Communication and Public Relation Award, to the thunderous applause of the large gathering.
Global leader in optical aids crowns SN researcher with a coveted title
We take great pleasure and pride in sharing that Ms Mehal P.Rathore, Research Assistant at the Cornea Department has been awarded the coveted title of ‘IVI Essilor optometry wizard of the year’. The competition conducted on a national level by the optical aids major drew participation from all over the country; contestants had to clear a web-based round, phone-in round to qualify for the final face to face round. Ms Mehal demonstrated her deep understanding and clear subject matter expertise in a keenly contested final round held at the Sri Prakash Institute of Optometry, Chennai on 8th November 2018, covering a broad spectrum of topics as diverse as Clinical Ophthalmology, Ocular Diseases, Clinical Optometry, Contact Lens, Low Vision Aids. Binocular Vision and Dispensing Optics to walk away with the title of ‘optometry wizard’ the award included a cash prize of INR 10,000 and the results were covered by leading dailies like the Times of India, Business Standard, Hans India and Daily Hunt.
The Sankara Nethralaya family conveys its hearty Congrats! to Ms Mehal for this high recognition by a leader in optics and for keeping the SN flag flying high in a highly prestigious knowledge exposition. We wish her many more laurels and accolades in her academic and professional journey.
The ‘Temple of the Eye’ starts a new chapter in ‘Maanava Seva’ in a sacred temple town
A close look at the inception, growth and 4 decades of service by Sankara Nethralaya would make it apparent that if something has been the consistent moving force for all the above, next only to the blessings of the Kanchi Acharyas, it is the boundless love to mankind, a strong sense of service, a no strings attached generosity and utmost faith in the institution exhibited by its donors and well wishers. It was a beautiful demonstration of this faith that was being showcased on the 20th of September 2018 in the small town of Chetpet in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, as the curtains went up on yet another major step in Sankara Nethralaya’s battle against blindness, in a semi urban area. The day’s proceedings got off with a warm welcome note to the large gathering by the visionary founder and Chairman Emeritus presiding over the inaugural of his institution’s 7th unit in the State and 12th in the country, his passion and involvement in the event taking one back to the day the journey began 4 decades ago. Hailing Chief Donor Shri Surajmal Jain, Philantrophist, Visionary, Educationist and Chairman of Acharya Sri Hasthi Aradhana Foundation (ASHA) a long time friend and well wisher, for his massive social service in the region, he underlined that his philanthropy, vision and persistence in doing good were instrumental in the inception of the new unit. The head of Sankara Nethralaya thanked district collector Shri KS Kandaswamy and Rajayogini B.K. Uma of the Brahma Kumari movement for gracing the function, he reiterated the institution’s avowed principle of dispensing high quality care without disparity to both paying and non paying patients and urged the gathering to make the best use of the facility coming up in their locality and fulfil the dream of the generous donor who had envisaged such a service for them.
A typical trait of all Sankara Nethralaya’s endeavours is the blurring of the line of difference between the beneficiary and benefactor and it was evident in great measure at the inaugural with the involvement and efforts to make it a grand event by Shri Surajmal Jain and his family by attending to every little detail with love and ensuring the comfort of the members of the Sankara Nethralaya family and other invitees.
It was a noble event, with noble people participating in it and noble messages filled the air quite naturally, eminent philanthropist and educationist Shri Surajmal Jain whose contribution of the premises for the institution was instrumental in its formation observed that if DrSS.Badrinath had any commercial motives there would be no Sankara Nethralaya today and his consent to start a unit in Tiruvannamalai came as a boon to the people of all the 6 taluks of the district. Guest of Honour Rajayogini B.K. Uma hailed the unit as a contribution of two great Mahans, Shri Surajmal Jain and Dr SS.Badrinath, she persuaded every individual in the gathering to stop thinking for a minute on how to take or receive and concentrate on how to give back to society, which would be for the spiritual and material well being of the world. The public spirited collector of the district Shri K.S.Kandaswamy presiding as the Chief Guest declared that it was the blessings of his birth that he was sharing the dais with a legend like Dr SS.Badrinath, he thanked Shri Surajmal Jain and Sankara Nthralaya for starting an advanced eye care unit that would serve the paying and non paying patients in his district. The collector joined Rajayogini B.K. Uma in making a passionate plea to set aside something from one’s income to the society, adding that philanthropy was not an exclusive prerogative of the wealthy and everyone should exhibit kindness and the spirit of giving within their capacity. Dr Girish Rao, Medical Director hailed the infrastructure of the new unit as being on par with the main hospital, he had a high word of praise for Shri Surajmal Jain, his wife and sons Shri Kamal and Shri Sunil for their persistence and steadfastness which helped in overcoming several legal and procedural hurdles and made the centre a reality. The crowning glory of the day was the message and blessing by HH Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the Pontiff of the Kanchi Mutt, made through a virtual appearance. The Seer explained that it is only by constant pursuit of how, where and when we can be of help and service to fellow human beings that we can fulfil the purpose of our avatar as human beings. He expressed his joy at the opening of a Sankara Nethalaya unit at Tiruvannamalai and blessed the unit for its success and to serve a large number of patients from the region and the noble couple who had contributed to its creation.