Sankara Nethralaya News
Yet another Doctoral researcher from Elite School of Optometry!
Congratulations to Dr. Ramya S
Dr. Ramya S, successfully defended her PhD Viva Voce on 12th September 2024 and became the 12th doctoral scholar from the renowned Elite School of Optometry (ESO). ESO in collaboration with the SASTRA Deemed University offers undergraduate, postgraduate and Doctoral studies in various specialties of optometry. Dr. Ramya is currently working with ESO, run by Sankara Nethralaya as a Senior Optometrist and Associate Professor.
Her thesis titled “Role of customized visual and multifactorial interventions in preventing falls among individuals with visual impairment in South India” was completed under the guidance of Dr. Anuradha N, Principal, Elite School of Optometry. The project was funded by Judge Shri. P V Parameswara Iyer & Smt. Kamala Bai Endowment Award, Elite School of Optometry instituted by Dr. P. P. Santanam, the first Principal of Elite School of Optometry.
Her work was greatly appreciated by the external examiner Prof. B. R. Shamanna, Professor, School of Medical Sciences, University of Hyderabad for conceptualization, logical sequence and extensive background work in falls and visual impairment. He also applauded her for answering specific research questions by identifying adults with falls and visual impairment, proposing “SMART” intervention strategy using qualitative approach and testing the same for a subset of subjects in real life situations using experimental design. She was also congratulated by faculties, optometrists and students who attended the viva voce examination.
Dr Arun Kumar, Medical Science Liaison, AbbVie, USA was the second reviewer who appreciated the sincere efforts of Dr. Ramya in converting this much needed intervention into a reality and testing for effectiveness.. He believed that this work would add value to the patients with vision impairment to function better in their lives.
Sankara Nethralaya Marks 46th Foundation Day with Fun and Festivity
Sankara Nethralaya celebrated its 46th Foundation Day on September 8, 2024, with a day filled with joy, competition, and festivity. The event, held at Kalaivanar Arangam, saw enthusiastic participation from employees, students of the Elite School of Optometry, and The Sankara Nethralaya Academy.
A series of competitions brought out the talents of Sankara Nethralaya’s teams, with each performance met with cheers from colleagues and friends. The highlight of the day was the “Juke Box” singing competition, where the SN Dare Devils hit all the right notes to secure the win, leaving the SN Knight Riders to take the runner-up spot.
The energy only amplified with the “Dance League,” where captivating performances set the stage on fire. Once again, the SN Dare Devils danced their way to victory, while the SN Titans gave a strong performance to claim second place.
The “Show Stealers” ramp walk showcased creativity and style, with the SN Knight Riders strutting their way to the top, while the SN Sunrisers followed closely behind as runners-up. In a fun-filled final round of “Siricha Pochu” that had everyone in splits, the SN Dare Devils once again emerged victorious, with the SN Sunrisers taking second place.
At the end of the day, it was the SN Dare Devils who swept the overall championship trophy, leaving the SN Knight Riders to proudly take the runner-up title.
The little ones weren’t left out of the excitement, as a drawing competition was organized for the children of SN employees, allowing the young artists to showcase their creativity.
The celebration was graced by several distinguished leaders of Sankara Nethralaya, including Chairman Dr. T. S. Surendran, President Dr. Girish Shiva Rao, Honorary Secretary Mr. Ramachandran, and Honorary Treasurer Mr. Kannan Narayanan, who enjoyed the performances as much as the participants did.
Another major highlight of the day was the much-anticipated launch of Sankara Nethralaya’s newly redesigned website, which boasts a sleek and stylish look. The new website offers a fresh, modern experience, combining user-friendly navigation with visually appealing design.
With fun, laughter, and team spirit shining through, the Foundation Day celebration was a delightful success, reminding everyone that Sankara Nethralaya is a family that knows how to celebrate together!
Sankara Nethralaya Launches Sankara Nethralaya Elite School of Optometry (SNESO) in Kolkata
The grand event took place at the Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residencies on August 24, 2024. The Honorable Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Shri Biman Banerjee, inaugurated the college. The event was honored by the presence of Shri Dr. Partha Pratim Lahiri, Registrar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology; and Shri Basudeb Banerjee, Former Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal.
Almost 40 years ago, on September 17, 1985, the Elite School of Optometry (ESO) was established in Chennai as the first modern school of optometry in India to offer a four-year professional degree program. The vision of the great founder of Sankara Nethralaya, Padma Bhushan Late Dr. S. S. Badrinath, has made the Elite School of Optometry a testament to excellence in optometric education, research, clinical practice, and community outreach. Building on this strong foundation, ESO has now opened its first branch in Kolkata.”
The SNESO is set to provide cutting-edge facilities and a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for the evolving demands of the optometry field. SNESO will offer 30 seats for the Bachelor of Optometry programme from the current academic year in its New Town, Kolkata campus. With admissions currently underway, classes are scheduled to commence in September 2024.
Sankara Nethralaya Opens New Modular OT Complex in JKCN
Sankara Nethralaya has officially opened its new Modular OT complex, located on our JKCN campus’ 2nd floor, HTP block, as of August 22, 2024 with an official pooja. This state-of-the-art facility marks a milestone in Sankara Nethralaya’s commitment to delivering exceptional ophthalmic care and addressing the evolving needs of both patients and staff.
Constructed in just five months, the new Modular OT complex includes three additional operating theatres dedicated to anterior segment surgeries. This expansion is set to alleviate the previous shortage of full-day OT slots, thus supporting consultants in providing more specialized care. Operations in the new OT complex are expected to be started in the first week of September.
The new facility falls in line with the latest advancements in hospital design, aiming to enhance operational efficiency while minimizing disruption to ongoing services.
The Mahyco Block OT complex in our Padma Bhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus, a cornerstone of Sankara Nethralaya since 1991, conducted its final surgeries on August 24, 2024.
Sankara Nethralaya extends its gratitude to the donors who played a crucial role in the construction of this new OT complex. Their support has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
The new Modular OT complex is anticipated to enhance surgical capabilities and patient care, marking an important milestone in Sankara Nethralaya’s journey.
Sankara Nethralaya Hosts 5th Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Scientific Session
Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan, affectionately known as Dr. Raji, remains a distinguished name in the field of contact lens practice in India. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades, she gained international recognition for her pioneering contributions to contact lens innovations and specialty practices in the country. In 2020, Sankara Nethralaya established the “Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Contact Lens Oration” on her birthday, September 9.
The 5th Dr. Rajeswari Mahadevan Memorial Scientific Session was held on August 17th and 18th, 2024. The event started with an online quiz competition designed for optometry undergraduates. The online quiz contest saw enthusiastic participation from around 14 optometry colleges, with students actively engaging in the competition. The quiz was conducted by Ms. Varsa Harinya, Mr. Krishna Shah, Mr. Ronit Dutta, and CL postgraduate and fellowship students Mr. Sayak and Mr. Mrityunjoy.
The following day keynote speeches and research presentations focused on contact lenses were featured, with more than 150 registrations from optometry students, faculty, and contact lens practitioners from various parts of the country. Dr. Girish Shiva Rao, President and Executive Medical Director of the Medical Research Foundation and Dr. N. Anuradha, Principal of Elite School of Optometry shared fond memories of Dr. Raji. This year, the session was graced by the presence of Ms. Lakshmi Shinde, CEO of the Optometry Confederation of India, who delivered the keynote address on “Contact Lens Fitting Approach in Ectatic Cornea.” This was followed by a case-based learning session by the SN CL Team, showcasing various types of contact lens fittings for ectatic cornea, complemented by impressive videos and clinical images presented by Ms. Akshaya Balakrishnan, Mr. Ronit Dutta, and Ms. S. Karpagavalli.
The scientific session featured 12 oral presentations from different optometry colleges, which were evaluated by Ms. Lakshmi Shinde and Dr. Rashima Asokan, Head of Occupational Optometry Services at Sankara Nethralaya.
New contests introduced this year, such as the E-poster and Poster Slam Contest on “What Best I Did for My Patient,” were well received by participants. The judging panel was composed of esteemed professionals including Mr. Yeshwant Saoji, Mr. Prasad Sawanth, and Dr. Rashima Asokan.
An interactive session on “Various Contact Lens Options for Myopia Control,” presented by Ms. S. Madhumathi, was followed by a brief talk on Orthokeratology by Ms. Manju, along with a live demonstration of Ortho-K lenses by Ms. Madhumathi, Ms. Manju, Mr. Krishna Shah, and Ms. Varsa Harinya. The session concluded with insightful presentations on Orthokeratology and Scleral Lenses by V Square Medi Solutions and Global OK Vision.
The event also honored outstanding participants with several awards:
- Best Oral Presentation: Ms. Sindhu Vaishnavi from The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) and Ms. P. V. Gayathri from SRM Medical College.
- Best Scientific E-Poster: Ms. Diksha Rathi from The Sankara Nethralaya Academy.
- Best Scientific Photography: Mr. Sanjay Ghoia and Mr. Kamalesh from Sankara College of Optometry.
- Best Poster Slam Winner: Mr. Manish Bhagat, Consultant Optometrist, LVPEI.
- Scientific Quiz Winner: Vidyasagar School of Optometry and Vision Science, Kolkata.
- Rapid Fire Quiz Winner: Mr. Sunny Kant from The Sankara Nethralaya Academy.
- Overall, the session was met with high appreciation, sparking numerous stimulating discussions and receiving positive feedback from delegates. It was truly an inspiring and productive event, befitting the legacy of Dr. Raji.
Independence Day 2024 Celebrations at Sankara Nethralaya: Recognizing Excellence and Dedication
The Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus at Sankara Nethralaya was abuzz with excitement as the 78th Independence Day was celebrated with a special awards ceremony recognizing the outstanding contributions of its staff. The event, held at 7:45 AM, was graced by the presence of Dr. V. Thiruppugazh IAS (Retd.), Former Additional Secretary NDMA and Chairman, Advisory Committee for Mitigation of Floods in Chennai, as the chief guest, who also hoisted the flag.
The following awards were presented during the celebration:
Outstanding Performances: Women
Gold Medal: Ms. Kavitha B, Manager, Fund Raising
Silver Medal: Dr. Rashima A, Incharge, Occupational Optometry Services
Outstanding Performances: Men
Gold Medal: Mr. Arumugam D, Incharge, Transport Department
Silver Medal: Mr. Hajakamal Y, Junior Executive, Civil & Electrical Services Department
Best Department Awards
Gold Award: Civil & Electrical Services Department
Silver Award: Department of Biomedical Engineering
Special recognition was given to Dr. Bhaskaran from Internal Medicine, who has been with Sankara Nethralaya for an extraordinary 45 years.
Long service awards were presented to several dedicated employees:
35 Years: Dr. Vijaya L (Glaucoma), Ms. Usha V (Medical Transcription), Mr. Krupanandam A (Outpatient Services)
30 Years: Dr. Lingam Gopal (Vitreoretina), Dr. Muna Bhende (Vitreoretina), Ms. Sreedevi C G (Academics), Ms. Vijayalakshmi A (General Optometry), Ms. Mahalakshmi Saravanavelu (Operation Theatre), Ms. Revathi Selvam (Operation Theatre), Ms. Sasikala S (Operation Theatre), Ms. Uma Maheswari T J (Operation Theatre), Ms. Sharmila O V (Operation Theatre)
Additionally, 37 employees were honored for 25 years of service, 6 for 20 years, 17 for 15 years, and 14 for 10 years.
The Circle of Excellence Award was presented to the Patient Services Department, a recognition instituted by Ms. Sita Mittal, a SWAN volunteer.
A total of 62 employees received rank awards, and 14 children of Sankara Nethralaya employees were presented with merit awards, highlighting the institution’s commitment to nurturing talent both within and beyond the workplace.
The event was a celebration of the tireless efforts and dedication of the entire Sankara Nethralaya team, with Dr. Thiruppugazh’s presence and speech inspiring the attendees.
TSNA Celebrates 11th Graduation Ceremony
The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) celebrated its 11th graduation ceremony, honoring the academic achievements of 59 graduates from the faculties of Optometry, Management Studies, and Medical Lab Technology for the year 2023-2024.
The ceremony took place at the Shri V. D. Swami Auditorium, located within the Sankara Nethralaya Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus in Chennai. The event was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Honorable Tmt. Justice V. Bhavani Subbaroyan, sitting Judge of the Madras High Court.
Also in attendance were Dr. T. S. Surendren, Chairman of the Medical Research Foundation, and Dr. Girish S. Rao, President & Executive Medical Director of the Medical Research Foundation, who congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and wished them success in their future endeavors.
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.
New Sky Lounge and Renovated Auditorium Inaugurated at Sankara Nethralaya
Sankara Nethralaya is delighted to announce the inauguration of the Sky Lounge, a new dining area, on July 9, 2024. The lounge is located on the 8th floor of the KNBIRVO Block at the Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus. This modern dining space promises a refreshing experience for visitors, staff, and guests, offering stunning views and a serene atmosphere.
In conjunction with the Sky Lounge, the newly renovated Shri V. D. Swami Auditorium was also unveiled. This state-of-the-art facility now boasts cutting-edge features, enhancing its capability to host conferences, seminars, and events with improved audio-visual technology and comfort.
Expert-Led “Fracture Repair and Clinical Tips” Event Held at Sankara Nethralaya
On June 23, 2024, the Jayshree Venkatraman Auditorium at the Sri A Sivasailam Block, JKCN Complex, Sankara Nethralaya, hosted the “Fracture Repair and Clinical Tips Under Real Experts” event. The program, designed to share valuable insights and practical knowledge on fracture repair, attracted an impressive lineup of medical professionals and eager participants.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Md Shahid Alam, setting the stage for the day’s activities. The first session, chaired by Dr. Nirmala Subramanian, featured an expert panel including Dr. Md Shahid Alam, Dr. Marian Pauly, Dr. Ananthanarayan P, Dr. Yogeshwari, and Dr. Pratheeba Devi Nivean, with Dr. Vathsalya Vijay serving as the moderator. Following this session, Dr. Raghuraj Hegde, Dr. Veena Noronha, and Dr. Tarjani Dave delivered their insightful lectures.
The second session focused on case presentations related to orbital fractures. Chaired by Dr. Kirthi Koka, the session saw judges Dr. Bipasha Mukherjee, Dr. Roshmi Gupta, Dr. Priti Uday, and Dr. A Samarpuri evaluating the presentations, with Dr. Preeta Nair moderating. Esteemed speakers, including Dr. Nidhi Pandey, Dr. Tejaswi K, Dr. Mohan Gowda, Dr. Snigdha Mishra, Dr. Priyanka Saini, and Dr. Prerana Patil, covered various relevant topics.
In the third session, another series of case presentations were chaired by Dr. Suresh Bapu, with panelists Dr. Tarjani Dave, Dr. Senthinathan, Dr. Sumathi V, and Dr. D Ramesh. The session judges were Dr. Raghuraj Hegde, Dr. Sumathi V, Dr. Kavitha Kalaivani, Dr. Elavenil P, and Dr. Vishwaraj Ratha, moderated by Dr. Anju V Chandran. Subsequent speakers, including Dr. Amirtha Varshini VS, Dr. Mughdha Sardessai, Dr. Pragya Singh, Dr. Maalavika, Dr. Kavya Annamalai, Dr. Durga Priyadarshini, and Dr. Varsha Backiavathy, provided further insights, followed by a lecture from Dr. Elavenil Paneerselvam.
The fourth session featured video presentations chaired by Dr. Roshmi Gupta, with judges Dr. Md Shahid Alam, Dr. Tarjani, Dr. Elavenil P, and Dr. P Senthilnathan. Dr. Mrithika Sen moderated this engaging session, which included lectures by Dr. Senthilnathan, Dr. Priti Uday, Dr. Ruhi Jange, and Dr. Sharmika Patoria. A lecture by Dr. Ananthanarayanan P was followed by an interactive quiz on ocular trauma.
The day concluded with two hands-on workshops and a prize distribution ceremony recognizing the standout participants. This event, marked by the presence of distinguished experts and dynamic sessions, underscored Sankara Nethralaya’s commitment to advancing medical education and fostering expertise in fracture repair.