Standard treatment procedures and a responsible and holistic approach are the factors needed for checking blindness in the country, according to Dr. Rajasekharan, eminent ophthalmologist and president of the National Board of Examinations, Union ministry of health and family welfare. Addressing the 25th year Silver Jubilee Celebration of The Eye Research Foundation (TERF) of the Chennai-based Vijaya Hospital he said that there are 180 million people in the world who are visually impaired.

Among them 45 million are blind and four out of five are from the developing countries. According to estimates blindness results from three major diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and trachoma, with 81 per cent being cataract.

Cataract is a condition clouding of the eye's lens and thus blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness, where as Trachoma affects the inner eyelid.

He said among various national programmes being envisaged by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, blindness control programme (BCP) is the most successful of them. This is more evident from the state of Tamil Nadu with internationally reputed Eye Research Centers involving themselves in Community health related programmes to the elimination of blindness. For this the state owes a great deal for ophthalmologists and other paramedics who are involved in these massive outreach programmes.

He said ophthalmology as a distinct specialty came to be known only in the 18th century. The discovery of ophthalmoscope by Herman in 1870 revolutionized the story of interior of eye particularly the Retina. Retinoscopy came to be a valuable method not only in diagnosing eye problems but also in many systematic diseases. He said the Minimal Incision Cataract surgery, Refractive Surgery, Pediatric Ophthalmology with correction of squint, corneal transplantaion.etc are the significant advances in the field of ophthalmology.

National Board of Examinations, by providing DNB training through formal and non-formal institutions are contemplating on utilization of the trained specialty man power to meet the needs of large population. "Any kind of academic achievement will be meaningless if it can not be translated into action to provide preventive and curative services to the community.
There is a great need to train paramedics like opticians, ocular therapists and nurses and community level social workers to provide the much-needed services for blindness control", he said.

While addressing the gathering Dr. K.M.Cherian, the popular cardiac surgeon in South India said dedicated research activities are the key factors to be implemented in any successful healthcare center. He advised the medical fraternity that all the medical practitioners should take a decision early in their career on whether the motivation was on earning or learning. (MORE)

TERF offers facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, said Dr. Babu Rajendran, medical director at the Foundation, while delivering the welcome speech.

The Foundation is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and staffed by a team of well-trained doctors and paramedics. The hospital also offers Diploma in Ophthalmology course, which is approved by National Board of Examinations.