Sankara Nethralaya News
35th Institutional Award Ceremony
The 35th Institutional Award Ceremony of the Medical and Vision Research Foundation was held on December 7, 2024, at the Dr V D Swami Auditorium, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.
Dr C Sylendra Babu, IPS (Retd), Former Director General of Police and Head of Police Force, Tamil Nadu, was the chief guest for the ceremony. Other distinguished luminaries in attendance were Dr T S Surendran, Chairman, Medical Research Foundation & Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Dr Smita Praveen, Director- Academics, Dr N Angayarkanni, Director- Laboratory Services, Dr A R Anand, Professor & Head, Microbiology Department, Coordinator – Vidyasagar Institute of Biomedical Technology and Sciences along with Dr Rashima Asokan, Professor – Elite School of Optometry and Dr N Anuradha, Principal – Elite School of Optometry.
During his address to the graduates, Dr C Sylendra Babu insisted on the importance of optometrists and their roles in the community. Dr N Anuradha and Dr A R Anand presented the academic reports of Elite School of Optometry and Vidyasagar Institute of Biomedical Technology and Sciences (VIBS) respectively. The event brought together proud parents and professionals of the institution for the much awaited ceremony.
On the day of the ceremony, 5 PhD scholars, 5 post graduates and 28 undergraduates of Optometry received their honors in addition to the best students of the first, second and third year of optometry. Institutional awards for various ophthalmology specialties and research were also presented. Furthermore, awards for Best Optometrist, Best Research Publication and Best Research in Optometry instituted by the Elite School of Optometry Alumni Association, as well as awards for Best Junior & Senior faculty were also conferred to the recipients. ESO congratulates all the graduates and award recipients on this grand occasion!
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.
Ayudha Pooja Celebrated at Sankara Nethralaya
On October 10, 2024, Sankara Nethralaya celebrated Ayudha Pooja. During the festive occasion, a traditional pooja ceremony was performed, honoring the tools and instruments essential to the organization. Employees were offered “pori” (rice puff) prasadham following the ceremony.
In addition, employees were delighted to receive gifts of their choice from three different categories. This celebration marked a day of worship and gratitude and strengthened the bonds among employees.
DMEK Wet Lab Conducted by Cornea Department at Sankara Nethralaya
The Cornea Department of Sankara Nethralaya conducted a DMEK Wet Lab on September 29, 2024, at the Sky Lounge of the Padma Bhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus in Chennai. The event commenced at 8 a.m. with a welcome address by Dr. Niveditha Narayanan.
A series of informative sessions followed, beginning with Dr. Rama Rajagopal’s presentation on “Donor Eye Selection” and Dr. Meena Lakshmipathy’s talk on “Patient Selection.” Dr. Niveditha Narayanan further explained “DMEK Decoded,” while Dr. Prateek Gujar discussed “DMEK Graft Unfolding.” Insights were shared by Dr. Prema Padmanabhan following which Dr. Sudhir RR spoke about his experience with DMEK.
The day concluded with a hands-on Wet Lab session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Shruti Muralidharan.
6th INOS Annual Conference Held at Sankara Nethralaya
The 6th Annual Conference of the Indian Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (INOS) was held at the Shri VD Swami Auditorium, Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus, Sankara Nethralaya, on September 21-22, 2024 following a pre-conference on September 20, 2024. The two-day event, conducted by Sankara Nethralaya and INOS, featured insightful sessions and discussions on the latest advancements in neuro-ophthalmology.
The first day included several engaging sessions, highlighted by the INOS Oration. Prof. Vimala Menon was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to the field. Numerous abstracts were also presented, showcasing innovative research.
On the second day, the conference continued with more sessions and abstract presentations, further enriching the scientific exchange and collaboration among experts.
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!
The Sankara Nethralaya Academy Wins Best Academic Institution Award
The Tamil Nadu Dr M G R Medical University conducted its “Research Day” on September 26th, 2024. Hon. State Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian was the Chief Guest. The event was presided by the Vice Chancellor of the TN MGR Medical University Dr Narayanaswamy.
This event awarded the UG and PG colleges affiliated with the TN MGR Medical University under various systems of medicine. The award was decided based on the overall academic performance including criteria of the number of students, pass percentage and the performance in the continuous provisional affiliation (CPA). Schools of Medicine, Nursing, AYUSH and Allied Health Sciences were awarded. There are 757 affiliated colleges to the university and every year 30000 students pass out from the university.
The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) was awarded the “Best Academic Institution for Allied Health Sciences ( P.G.) degree courses” in a grand event attended by 2500 delegates in the TN MGR Medical University Silver Jubilee Auditorium. This award is being instituted for the first time from 2023-24 onwards.
The event also witnessed awards given for various research projects done by the faculty and students under the various disciplines.
Dr N Anuradha, Principal of the TSNA, Ms C G Sreedevi, Asst Registrar- TSNA, Mr Senthilkumar, Associate Professor and HOD, Faculty of Management attended the event and received the award.