Activities within the grant and expected
impact:
The first two phases of support had been approached
essentially as a programmatic intervention
on tackling the problem of “preventable
blindness”.
However, given the magnitude of preventable
blindness’ problems in India, a more
comprehensive approach is being followed during
Phase III, for which:
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The training programme
is for a two-month duration, as before
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There are 10 candidates
per batch |
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The novel concept of training
on virtual reality is introduced to
the candidates once installed |
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The number of surgeries,
being undertaken per fellow is as follows:
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| |
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Extra Capsular Cataract
Extractions (ECCE) – 2 to 3 |
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SICS – 8 to 9 |
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Phaco – 12 to 14
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Virtual – 10 |
Introduction of virtual surgeries will
help increase the total number of surgeries
done by the candidates as well as improve
their confidence level in the phacoemulsification
procedures.
The key components include:
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Training 10 ophthalmologists
every two months in advanced cataract
surgery techniques |
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Training ophthalmologists
in other institutes to help them run
similar programmes {Training of Trainers
(TOT)} |
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Training paramedics of
the trainees in the art of operation
theatre maintenance and sterilisation
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Introducing the novel
concept of virtual reality surgery |
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Disseminating the gains
from the programme |
During the three-year grant period, the following
would be achieved:
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180 ophthalmologists
will be trained at Chennai |
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18 trainers (TOT) will
be trained during the same period |
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The TOTs will go back
to their parent institutions and would
be training 100 ophthalmologists over
the next three years |
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It is estimated that
by the year 2010, the Trusts' alumni
could have performed 10.86 per cent
of the estimated number of surgeries
conducted in India at that time, directly
or indirectly. |
In addition to making a significant impact
on the number of surgeries performed in
India, there will be several other improvements
such as the quality of surgery, fewer complications,
etc., which will benefit the quality of
life of the patients and help reduce the
cataract surgery induced blindness in the
country.
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