AIIMS-Bhubaneswar opens Low Vision Clinic for visually impaired patients

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], April 24 (ANI): The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar opened a Low Vision Clinic for patients with severe visual impairments on Wednesday.

The Low Vision Clinic will help a special group of patients like the socially blind and other patients having very low vision due to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, retinal diseases, and other blinding diseases, who do not benefit from surgery or spectacle correction, according to a press release.

These patients usually lose hope and get frustrated with life due to being a burden to others in their family. The low vision aids will help these patients to do their routine work and lead an independent life. This is the first-of-its-kind vision clinic in any government institute in Odisha.

In a first-of-its-kind endeavour within any government institution in Odisha, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has collaborated with Dr. R.P.Centre, AIIMS Delhi, and Cristoffel Blinden Mission (CBM), Germany, to establish this visionary clinic. Operational daily, the clinic pledges to offer visual rehabilitation services to those in need, thereby reshaping lives and fostering a sense of empowerment, the press release said.

Inaugurating the pioneering initiative Executive Director Dr. Biswas praised the initiatives of the Ophthalmology department and acknowledged the transformative impact of the clinic. He also expressed gratitude to AIIMS Delhi for their support under the ‘ROSHINI’ project.

Emphasizing regular follow-ups, AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Dr Biswas also unveiled the training manuals designed to empower accredited social health activists (ASHA) and volunteers with essential eye care knowledge.

Dr. Praveen Vasisth from Dr. R.P.Centre, AIIMS Delhi, shed light on the collaborative efforts between the Government of India and NGOs like CBM, culminating in the establishment of similar clinics nationwide under the ‘ROSHINI’ project.

Dr. Sucheta Parija, Head of the Department, Ophthalmology, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, provided insights into the clinic’s operational data, highlighting its impact on patient welfare.

Over 75 patients have already benefitted from the Low Vision Clinic at the AIIMS, informed the Head of the Ophthalmology Department Dr Sucheta Parija.

Dr. Praveen Vasisth from Dr. R.P.Centre, AIIMS Delhi, Medical Superintendent Dr. Dillip Kumar Parida, DEAN Dr. Prashant Raghab Mohapatra and others were present during the inauguration of the Low Vision Clinic.