‘’Government has to show its complete commitment to build a robust international standard eye banking network’’

LVPEI celebrated its Silver Jubilee last year. What have been the most important milestones in the journey so far?

Our major milestones so far have been as follows:

• Developing the first integrated model of comprehensive eye care from primary to advanced tertiary levels through our pyramidal model of eye care delivery
• An integrated model of community, primary and secondary comprehensive eye care with strong links to tertiary care, training and research providing coverage to around 2000 villages directly with ongoing care though permanent facilities.
• Established the dedicated “Children’s Eye Care Centre” – the first such in Asia and in any developing country. The Children’s Eye Care Centre is one of the (top two or three) busiest centres in the world.
• First international standard eye bank in Asia- Received around 45000 donor corneas till date.
• First eye institute in the world to integrate ‘rehabilitation of reversible blind and low vision’ as part of an eye institute.
• Started the first nationwide contact lens education programme
• Education programmes which were designed on the needs of eye care in India and developing countries
• World class research centre encompassing basic, clinical, translational, outcomes, psycho-physics and population health
• World class eye banking training programmes
• Founding of Indian Eye Research group
• Pivotal role in advocacy, policy formulation and planning of eye care and prevention of blindness programmes at state, national and global levels.

Where do you envisage the company in the next 25 years?

We have a lot of plans in the coming years. Some of them include:

• Expansion and extension of all our activities geographically, physically and activity wise
• Creating centres of excellence in many niche areas
• Fostering creativity and innovation
• Continue to influence global eye health policy

Tell us about eye health in India? How do we fare vis-a-vis the global scenario? What should be done to improve the situation? How would LVPEI contribute in doing so?

We are the leaders among the developing countries and if all available resources – human, technological and financial are used optimally (which regretfully remains a challenge), we can be among the very best. Another major challenge is the quality of education of eye care professionals which needs complete overhaul, without which we will at best be mediocre in our average standards of care. LVPEI has played its role in improving the situation and will continue to do so at every level.

Tell us about eye banking in India? What is the need of the hour in this sphere?

We are still in infancy stage. The road map is clear but it is our reluctance to move forward that is a major hindrance. All the ingredients are available but now the government has to show its complete commitment to build a robust international standard eye banking network for the country. It is eminently possible in a very short period. By 2020, we can be a country with no waiting lists for corneal transplants and can be a model for the world.

What are LVPEI’s plans in the current fiscal?

Our plans for the current fiscal include:

• Nearly doubling physical space at the main campus in Hyderabad helping to significantly enhance our patient care, education and research capacity
• Building of secondary centres in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (will be initiating rural eyecare in Odisha)
• Adding 30 more ‘Vision centres’ for primary eye care in remote rural areas.
• Innovation centre at full speed.
• Engaging in tertiary care in two other states
• Capacity building of over 20 hospitals in India and other countries.
• Increasing involvement in international projects and programmes, both at the institutional level and individual level of many of our colleagues.

lakshmipriya.nair@expressindia.com