Awards
OPTINT Conference Highlights from Sankara Nethralaya, Optometry Department
The Second National Optometry Conference, OPTINT, organized by the Optometric Association of Tamil Nanbargal (OATN), was successfully held at Sri Ramachandra Medical College on August 31 and September 1, 2024. This event brought together professionals and students from the field of optometry to share their research and advancements.
The Department of Optometry proudly submitted a total of eight abstracts, showcasing the innovative work of our team.
Awards and Recognitions:
- Best Oral Presentation (Regular Category): Ms. Tharakeswari T, Senior Optometrist, received this prestigious award for her outstanding presentation, reflecting her expertise and dedication to the field.
- Best Poster Winner (Case Report Category): Ms. Diksha Rathi was recognized for her exceptional poster.
- Best Poster Runner-Up (Case Report Category): Ms. Anindita Choudhury earned commendation for her impactful case report presentation. Ms Diksha Rathi and Ms Anindita Choudhury, Master of Optometry students (The Sankara Nethralaya Academy) submitted their case report under the guidance from the team of Binocular vision.
These achievements highlight the talent and hard work from the Department of Optometry, Sankara Nethralaya. Congratulations to all the participants and awardees for their remarkable contributions!
ESO & TSNA Students Shine at 60th Indian Contact Lens Education Programme
Our Masters Optometry students from the Elite School of Optometry (ESO) and The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) won a feat of awards at the “60th Indian Contact Lens Education Programme (ICLEP)” held at LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad on July 14th, 2024.
Ms. Janani B from ESO, SASTRA, emerged as the “WINNER” for her oral presentation titled “Cost and Benefits of Availing Specialty Contact Lenses from the Perspective of Patients.” Her research, supervised by Dr. Anuradha, Ms. Swetha, and Ms. S. Madhumathi, impressed the judges and highlighted the economic and therapeutic advantages of specialty contact lenses.
Ms. Archita Kakti from TSNA secured the “RUNNER UP” award for her insightful presentation on “Evaluation of Changes in Ocular Surface Parameters in Neophyte Soft Contact Lens Users.” Her study, under the guidance of Ms. S. Madhumathi and Mr. Ronit Dutta, shed light on the impact of contact lens use on ocular surface health in new users.
In addition to these top honors, four abstracts from our Masters students were selected for oral presentations at the conference, showcasing their innovative research and clinical findings:
Ms. Sindhu Vaishnavi from TSNA presented her work on “Quality of Life in Pediatric Patients Wearing Scleral Lenses,” supervised by Ms. S. Madhumathi, Ms. Akshaya Balakrishnan, and Ms. S. Karpagavalli. Her research focused on the positive impact of scleral lenses on the quality of life in young patients.
Mr. Priyom Parashar from TSNA shared a “Case Report on Managing Nystagmus: A Comprehensive Approach for Improved Outcomes,” guided by Mr. Praveen Kumar, Mr. Amit Bhowmick, Mr. Krishna Shah, and Ms. S. Madhumathi. His detailed case study provided valuable insights into managing nystagmus for better patient outcomes.
Sankara Nethralaya Honored with Sri Sant Hirdharam Sewa Award at Vision 2020 Conference
The 18th annual conference of Vision 2020, a significant event in the field of ophthalmology, was held from July 5 to 7, 2024, at Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana. The conference brought together leading experts and institutions dedicated to eradicating preventable blindness and enhancing eye care services globally.
During the event, the Sri Sant Hirdharam Sewa award was awarded to Sankara Nethralaya for our innovative eye care practices. Our Senior Consultant, Dr. R R Sudhir, received the award on behalf of Sankara Nethralaya.
Sankara Nethralaya Honours Atlanta-based Engineer Mr. Bala Reddy Indurti with Sankara Ratna Award
Sankara Nethralaya is proud to announce that Atlanta-based engineer and philanthropist Mr. Bala Reddy Indurti was awarded the prestigious Sankara Ratna Award for 2023 on May 25, at Shri. V. D. Swami Auditorium, Sankara Nethralaya Padma Bhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus, College Road, Chennai.
Mr. Bala Reddy Indurti, an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTU), and the University of Texas, has channelled his professional success into passionate social work. His efforts primarily focus on providing educational assistance to underprivileged children and organizing free health camps.
As the President of Sankara Nethralaya USA, Mr. Indurti has significantly increased the organization’s footprint by establishing numerous chapters across the United States. His notable “Adopt a Village” initiative enables Indian expatriates to sponsor Mobile Eye Surgical Units (MESU) in their ancestral villages in India, delivering essential eye care to underserved communities.
The award ceremony was attended by Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, who presented the award. Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu served as the guest of honour. The event also saw the presence of several dignitaries including former Sankara Ratna recipient and acclaimed Tamil movie director S. P. Muthuraman, Justice Prabha Sridevan (Retd.), and Dr. V. Thirupugazh I.A.S. (Retd.). Honorary Secretory, Medical Research Foundation, Mr. G Ramacharndran, Sankara Nethralaya’s President Dr. Girish Shiva Rao, Chairman Dr. T. S. Surendran, and Honorary Treasurer Mr. Kannan Narayanan graced the occasion.
Mr. Indurti expressed his gratitude and commitment to the cause, stating, “When I started working for the Sankara Nethralaya, I could see the vision of Dr. S. S. Badrinath. In the USA, we had 25 trustees and seven chapters. In the last six years after I became the president, we expanded from seven places to 21 places. We are trying to expand to more and more cities.”
In his address, Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi highlighted the importance of eye donation and the critical role of collaborations between government health sectors and NGOs like Sankara Nethralaya for societal betterment. Quoting Swami Vivekananda, he remarked, “Service of mankind is service to God. Standing here at this ceremony, I am reminded of two categories of people. One category includes people like Bala Reddy. All the way from the USA, he thought about his brothers here in India and was involved in activities for their welfare. The next category includes doctors and paramedical staff.”
Guest of honour, Ambati Rayudu, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for greater appreciation of doctors. He shared a personal anecdote about how his child’s vision was restored by Sankara Nethralaya, expressing profound gratitude to the doctors and the institution.
The Sankara Ratna Award, established in 2002 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Sankara Nethralaya, honors distinguished individuals who have significantly supported and contributed to the institution’s mission and philosophy. Past recipients include luminaries such as Sri Ratan Tata, Sri A. M. Naik, Dr. Madhavan Nair, Tamil movie director S. P. Muthuraman, and former HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh.
This year’s award to Mr. Bala Reddy Indurti continues the tradition of recognizing exceptional contributions to society, highlighting the impactful work done by individuals in collaboration with Sankara Nethralaya.
Dr. Veena Baskaran Honored by ACOIN for Community Service at International Friendship Conference
Dr. Veena Baskaran, the Head of the Department at Jaslok Community Ophthalmic Centre and Senior Consultant at C.U.Shah Sankara Nethralaya, has received recognition for her outstanding community service at The International IndoNepal Friendship Conference held in Kathmandu. The conference, which unfolded on April 13th and 14th, had Dr. Veena Baskaran being honored by ACOIN (Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India and Nepal) for her remarkable contributions in community service. This accolade is a fitting tribute to her dedication to improving eye health and highlights her contributions to the field of ophthalmology.
Dr. L Vijaya Delivers Thom Zimmerman Memorial Lecture at 12th International Congress on Glaucoma Surgery in Abu Dhabi
Sankara Nethralaya is elated to announce our Distinguished Senior Consultant Dr. L Vijaya delivered the ‘Thom Zimmerman Memorial Lecture’ at the 12th International Congress on Glaucoma Surgery. The event, which took place in Abu Dhabi from April 18 to April 20, 2024, featured top-notch sessions, including didactic sessions, interactive forums, grand rounds, videos, wet labs, and executive round-ups.
This gathering of leading minds in glaucoma surgery provided clear insights into evolving techniques, challenges, and solutions in the field. Dr. LV’s participation added prestige to the conference, while also highlighting Sankara Nethralaya’s commitment to advancing eye care.
Consultants of Sankara Nethralaya Shine at All India Ophthalmological Society Awards
Sankara Nethralaya has once again proven its excellence on a national stage with several of our consultants clinching prestigious awards at the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) Awards ceremony.
Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas, a stalwart in the field of ophthalmology, was honored with the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions and dedication to the field over the years.
Adding to the institution’s glory, Dr. Pramod Bhende was awarded the Dr. Michel Trese Oration, white Dr. Dhanashree Ratra was bestowed with the Honorary Fellow of the All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) by Selection. Dr. Radhika N received the appreciation certificate as one of the top 25 cited papers of Indian Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO) for the year 2021.
Furthermore, Dr. Muna Bhende, Dr. Shikha Bassi, and Dr. Bhaskar Srinivasan received the IJO Reviewer Honor Award, underscoring their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence. Dr. Geetha Iyer, Bhaskar Srinivasan, and Shwetha Agarwal were honored with the IJO Certificate Award.
Dr. Niveditha Narayanan’s exemplary work was acknowledged with the Best of IJO Award. Meanwhile, Dr. Parthopratim Dutta Majumder was recognized for his article for receiving the Top 10 Citation, highlighting his impactful research contributions that have garnered significant attention within the ophthalmic community.
Dr. Sudharshan S was appreciated with the AIOS Proceedings Appreciation Certificate, recognizing his valuable contributions to the AIOS proceedings. Additionally, Dr. Bhaskar Srinivasan and Dr. Parthopratim Dutta Majumder were honored with the IJO Reviewer Commendation award. Dr Debahuti Midya received the FAICO.
Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from All India Ophthalmological Society
In yet another feather to his cap, Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas, Director of Uvea, has been honored with the prestigious lifetime achievement award by the All India Ophthalmological Society. Renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of ophthalmology, particularly in the domain of Uveitis, Dr. Biswas’ dedication and expertise have earned him this distinguished accolade. The award is another proof for Dr. Biswas’ passion and efforts in advancing the understanding and treatment of ocular diseases, solidifying Sankara Nethralaya’s legacy as a leader in the field of ophthalmology.
Dr. Dhanashree Ratra Receives Honorary FAICO Award for Outstanding Contributions to Vitreo Retina
Vitreo Retina’s Senior Consultant Dr. Dhanashree Ratra has been awarded with the Honorary FAICO (Fellowship of All India Collegium of Ophthalmology) Award by the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOC) during their annual conference. This recognition highlights Dr. Ratra’s exceptional contributions to the field of ophthalmology and her commitment to advancing eye care. Her receipt of this award further emphasises her status as a leader and role model in ophthalmology, inspiring peers and aspiring ophthalmologists alike.
Dr. Parthopratim Dutta Majumder Honored as AIOS National Resource Teacher; Receives Gold Medal at GuruSangam
Senior Consultant of Uvea department Dr. Parthopratim Dutta Majumder has been conferred the prestigious title of All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) National Resource Teacher and awarded a Gold Medal at the AIOS GuruSangam event.
AIOS also recognized Dr. Majumder’s expertise by appointing him as a National Resource Teacher, highlighting his role as a guiding force in advancing knowledge and skills within the ophthalmic community.
The felicitation ceremony was held at the AIOS Headquarters in New Delhi on February 18th.