AIIMS-Bhubaneswar Opens Low Vision Clinic For Patients With Severe Visual Impairments

Bhubaneswar: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar has opened a Low Vision Clinic for patients with severe visual impairments.

The clinic, set up by AIIMS-Bhubaneswar in collaboration with Dr RP Centre, AIIMS-Delhi and Cristoffel Blinden Mission (CBM), Germany, is a first-of-its-kind service started in any government institution in Odisha to provide visual rehabilitation services to those in need.

According to the institute, the clinic will be helpful for patients having very low vision due to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, retinal diseases and other blinding diseases, and those who cannot benefit from surgery or spectacle correction. With low vision aids, they can lead an independent life.

Executive Director of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar Dr Ashutosh Biswas inaugurated the clinic in the presence of Dr Praveen Vasisth of Dr RP Centre, AIIMS-Delhi on Tuesday. Medical Superintendent Dr Dillip Kumar Parida and Dean Dr Prashant Raghab Mohapatra were also present.

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

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

She hinted at future collaborations by the department with blind schools and training of frontline workers to provide primary eye care at the community level.