I am happy that Sri Shankardeva Nethralaya has been created in Guwahati as a public-private partnership between tea industry, ONGC, bankers, Government of India, Government of Assam and other philanthropists. During the last 13 years, the hospital has treated over five lakh patients in Guwahati for various type eye ailments such as cataract, retinal detachment, glaucoma and other congenital eye diseases.

Special problems of north-east

I understand that the main eye problem faced by the people of Assam is Cataract. Two decades back, similar situation was existing in southern part of India. Dr. G. Venkataswamy has been the pioneer in conducting number of cataract operation through the Aravind medical system and today the situation is well under control. I am sure Sri Shankardeva Nethralaya also will work towards making the five districts of Assam and the eight districts of Nagaland free from cataract. There are number of blind schools in Assam. This has probably happened because of not providing timely treatment to the children who had preventable eye diseases. Now, Sri Shankardeva Nethralaya is available, I would suggest that the hospital to create a mobile eye clinic and carry out screening of children in all the adjoining rural areas. This will enable early detection of children having special eye problems. Based on this detection, treatment plan can be made by the hospital either in the village itself or they can be brought to the main hospital for short duration treatment. This can be taken up as a mission for Sri Shankardeva Nethralaya in partnership with societal organizations who are working in eye care area.

Connectivity

I am happy that the Sri Shankardeva Nethralaya has technically consultancy arrangements with Shankara Nethralaya of Chennai, Aravind Eye Hospital of Madurai and L.V. Prasad Eye Institute of Hyderabad. You can also consider having a linkage with Bhubaneswar Eye Institute of Orissa which has been recently commissioned and is now fully functional. Now, I would like to discuss some research areas.

Research Area

Nano technology is finding large-scale application in drug delivery systems, biomedical application and nano structure and devices. The low dimensionality of many nano-structures, in which electrons are free to move in only two, one or even zero dimensions, has a profound effect on their chemical, electronic and optical properties. The practical application of these effects is only just beginning to be realized in such devices as lasers based on quantum wires and quantum dots. By exploiting quantum behavior, researchers can tailor the basic characteristics of the materials and devices to achieve greater efficiency, faster speeds and high packing density devices for electronic, photonic, catalytic, magnetic and biomedical applications. For example, a neural stimulatory micro-system requires fairly uniform nano-sized electrode arrays for focal stimulation of neural tissue for the treatment of blindness. Using nano-technology research, ophthalmologists can find innovative treatment methods for glaucoma. As you are aware, there are some leading research initiatives in the world, which give promising hope in the treatment of glaucoma, where convergence of technologies plays a major role: -

1. Applied nanotechnology aimed at the regeneration and neuroprotection of the central nervous system (CNS) will significantly benefit from basic nanotechnology research conducted in parallel with advances in related biological sciences. (Surgical Neurology 63 (2005) 301? 306)

2. Hamsters blinded following damage to their optic nerve have had their vision partially restored with the help of an implanted nanoscale scaffold that has encouraged nerve tissue to regrow. (The New Scientist 13 March 2006)

3. Optic nerve regeneration is the key to at least partially reverse blindness from glaucoma.

Approach through traditional medicine

Approach through the traditional medicine route is another method to find a treatment regime for glaucoma. For example the extract of the leaves of the Chinese tree Ginkgo biloba, while Indians lay their hopes on Ashwagandha of Ayurveda for treatment of glaucoma. We need in depth work on these and similar approaches. I understand that research is going on to try and make a therapeutic vaccine against glaucoma. New innovative ideas of this kind should be encouraged in eye care centres in South East Asia.

Glaucoma is one area where we need an approach called bench to bedside, that is, basic research in the laboratory bench is needed in order to understand the problem, so that it can be translated as treatment to patients at their bedside. Scientists and ophthalmologists need to work hand in hand. I am sure Sri Shankardeva Nethralaya may like to follow this model in treating the patients.

Ophthalmologists as Teachers

Recently, there was a meeting of cured patients, their doctors and a few social workers. One important result was discussed. The relationship between the patient and doctor extends to patients? families and doctors in medical care. This in turn, transmits effective messages from one family to another family on advice on how to prevent eye diseases, necessity of periodic checks, dietary habits and need for life style changes including eye exercise for good eye health. Actually, I believe this good contact between doctors and patients is comparable to that of a teacher and student. I request every doctor to play the role of a teacher in advising every family on eye disease prevention particularly glaucoma and methods to maintain a healthy vision. I hope you will find time for this noble action.

May God bless you.

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