India Vision Institute (IVI), a not-for-profit NGO working to augment primary eye care capacity in India and to ensure equitable access and availability of spectacles for every Indian, will host a virtual international conference and Trade Fair Eye Health in a Changing World from October 3 to 4.
Over 10 crore Indians need access to a pair of glasses but do not have it. IVI’s CEO and Conference Chair, Vinod Daniel, said “The conference is being held at the most appropriate time with India’s problem of lack of access to eye health and vision care services, especially for the underprivileged and Indians in rural areas. The current pandemic has added to the problem of largely underserved and underprivileged communities unable to get adequate eye care. The conference hopes to address these and other issues.”
Announcing the conference, Mr Daniel said it “promises to be an important landmark event where the best in the world in eye care would speak and participate to discuss strategies for access to vision screenings for anyone in need in the country.”
IVI also launched the conference website platform today “marking the countdown to the virtual event.”
“Through our extensive work to provide access to vision care and free glasses to the needy across 18 states in India, including in Uttar Pradesh and Mizoram, IVI is attempting to make a difference. We work in partnerships with institutions and other NGOs, as well as complement the work of governments.”
“Among other initiatives, IVI has also undertaken awareness and capacity building programs for optometrists and ophthalmic professionals in India,” he added.
The conference will include talks by prominent individuals; Dr GN Rao, Founder-Chair, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Dr Thulasiraj Ravilla, Director, Operations, Aravind Eye Care System & Executive Director, LAICO, and Dr Maria Liu, Associate Professor of Clinical Optometry, College of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, among them. Other features include over 40 hours of lectures, high level panel discussions, 32 parallel sessions, and the Trade Fair with 100 live booths.
Those interested to participate and others can access the conference platform at www.ivieyehealth.com
About India Vision Institute
India Vision Institute is an independent, not-for-profit registered trust (with section 12A, 80G and FCRA of IT Act clearance) established in India in 2012. Our approach to advance the optometry and eye care sector in India has been through conceptualizing and implementing programs and strategically addressing eye health awareness, continuous education, building leadership, and promoting the research culture. We also focus on addressing avoidable blindness, especially uncorrected refractive error through our vision screening programs and provision of free spectacles in disadvantaged communities and remote areas. We have conducted 277 capacity building programs, 55 research grants and 17 travel grants benefitting over 11,000 eye health professionals across the country. Our 846 vision screening programs to date across India (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, New Delhi, Odisha, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) has benefitted over 3,20,352 individuals from the underprivileged communities, including 2,54,406 school children. We have so far distributed 49, 848 free spectacles through these programs. Visit www.indiavisioninstitute.org for more information.
