L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), in collaboration with Tata Centre for Design and Innovation and MIT Media Lab has launched the ‘ReDx: Engineering the Eye’ workshop in Hyderabad. The workshop is being conducted from 13-19 July 2014 and is mainly aimed at churning out innovative ideas for designing an artificial eye using the modern technology.

The workshop is mainly aimed motivating youngsters to play a role in making healthcare affordable, particularly in the area of Ophthalmology.  In fact the programme is part of LVPEI’s ‘Design Innovation Series’ from its Innovation Centre called Srujana. The workshop is supported by CYIEMT (formerly Infotech Enterprises Ltd).

About 100 engineering and design students from all across India are expected to work on prototypes for their innovations at the workshop for 6 days from 13-19 July. The overall programme is broadly divided into four tracks: Imaging the eye, Programming perception, Reinventing vision and Apps & Algorithms. Highly experienced and leading faculties from LVPEI and MIT Media Lab have been instituted to mentor the participants.

Inaugurating the workshop Professor Raghunath Mashelkar, Chairman, National Innovation Foundation paid tribute to Dr. G. N. Rao’s concept of LVPEI and its tagline ‘so all may see’ and said, “Today’s world is focusing on affordable excellence. Typically what is excellent is not affordable and what is affordable is not excellent. However the concept of ‘affordable excellence’ is catching fire and companies are moving from manufacturing products of excellence to functional but high quality ones. They are shifting from premium price and high profitability to affordable price and high volume. Technological innovation, Business Model Innovation coupled with Policy Innovation is what will work. End to end innovation from concept to turnover is the need of the hour”

Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Founder Chairman, L V Prasad Eye Institute said, “setting up the Innovation Hub was is initiative towards fulfilling the mission of LVPEI to create a system for nurturing innovation in ophthalmology and optometry, thereby making the allied services equitable and accessible to all those who need them, while speaking about LVPEI’s commitment to quality eye care.