Glaucoma and uvea centres opened at Sankara Nethralaya

The ICICI Foundation Glaucoma Centre and Uvea Centre were inaugurated at Sankara Nethralaya on Tuesday.

Girish Shiva Rao, president and executive medical director, Sankara Nethrayala, said, they have repurposed two floors that have been providing service for more than four decades.

The operation theatres and wards have been converted into outpatient department space.

He hoped that more corporates would help them refurbish their infrastructure to deliver uncompromised quality eye care.

Shantanu Samaddar, State Head – ICICI Bank Ltd, Tamil Nadu, gave an outline of the work carried out by ICICI Foundation including skill development and health, including rural health. In the last two years, they have been concentrating on health, working with like-minded institutions, he said.

M. Baskaran, director, Smt. Jadhavbai Nathamal Singhvee Glaucoma Services, Sankara Nethralaya, said the department had all modern equipment for glaucoma management. Last year, it received 20,000 to 25,000 patients (both old and new) and performed 2,500 to 3,000 major surgeries. Those treated included 150 to 200 children. The department also provided genetic counselling. Amala Elizabeth George, Deputy Director of Uvea Centre, said uvea, a rare and complex disease, contributed to 10% to 15% of blindness in the world.

T. S. Surendran, chairman, Sankara Nethralaya, Sugal Chand Jain, board member, Medical Research Foundation, Girish. S, Regional Head, ICICI Foundation, Ashok Mehta, honorary treasurer, Sankara Nethralaya, and G. Ramachandran, honorary secretary Sankara Nethralaya were present.