Eyeworld

EW INTERNATIONAL 90 February 2017 Dr. Kuldeep Srivastava, and Dr. Ashutosh Khandelwal, who send a team of ophthalmologists, optome- trists, nurses, organizers, and other volunteers. This is an example of an institute offering voluntary services to LLE in a symbiotic relationship." Planning and preparation of each project site requires great organization. This includes permis- sion from local authorities, publicity via media, announcements, the distribution of handbills, display of banners, posters, flags, and cable TV and radio broadcasts. Once having reached its destination, the LLE is parked at the train station's side rails for the duration of the camp. Primary screenings of patients by medical officers are carried out, followed by a consultation with the ophthalmic surgeon. An optome- trist calculates IOL power. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are ruled out. Preoperative antibiotic drops and pupillary dilatation are carried out, and a peribulbar block is given. Ophthalmic surgeons perform small incision cataract surgery with IOL implantation. Afterward, the patient is moved to the ward. The eye patch is removed on the first postoper- ative day and uncorrected visual acuity and pinhole vision are tested. The patients receive postoperative steroid, antibiotic, and cycloplegic drops. "The study results clearly indi- cate that this is a unique concept in combating treatable blindness due to cataract, virtually at the doorstep of the patients," Dr. Jain said. "However, this is possible only by the combined efforts of govern- ment, voluntary agencies, voluntary medical professionals, sponsors and many others. We work with U.K. volunteers and welcome profes- sionals from all over the world to provide their volunteer services, to perform surgery, or train the juniors at the hospital. The fact that this project has been replicated with four LLE trains in China, two in South Africa, and riverboat hospitals in Bangladesh and Cambodia proves its success and tremendous poten- tial. This may be replicated by other nations where a similar need and situation exists." EW Editors' note: Dr. Jain has no financial interests related to his comments. Contact information Jain: info@igehrc.org hygiene services including scaling, filling, and tooth extractions. Physi- cians offer epilepsy treatment, oral, breast and cervical cancer detection and control programs, and health education programs that educate health workers, educate adolescent girls and students regarding repro- ductive, maternal, and child health matters, and on puberty, menstru- ation cycles, anemia, marriage, and pregnancy. The number of surgeries in all faculties that has been per- formed up until now is 107,172. Each type of surgery is carried out by the donated services of three to five surgeons, two to three anes- thesiologists, six operation theatre technicians, eight medical assistants/ nursing staff responsible for pre-, intra-, and postoperative care, and some additional support staff. The LLE is equipped with modern instru- mentation and equipment to allow highly efficient surgeries. "The state- of-the-art equipment is one of the major success factors of the LLE and is well appreciated by the volunteer surgeons," Dr. Jain said. "The team from Indira Gandhi Eye and Re- search Center has contributed in 10 of these projects from 2005 to 2016. The hospital is led by Dr. Anil Tara, The hospital continued from page 88 U N I T I N G O V E R 5 0 0 L E A D E RS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROUND-BREAKING OPHTHALMIC TECHNOLOGIES O I S . N E T MAY 4, 2017 SHERATON GRAND LOS ANGELES 711 SOUTH HOPE STREET • LOS ANGELES, CA, 90017

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