A free eye screening programme for senior citizens being organised by L V Prasad Eye Institute in association with Vizag Development Council and Symbiosis Technologies was formally launched by the High Commissioner of Thailand in India Pisan Manawapat on the LVP Eye Institute campus here on Saturday.
Impressed by the idol of Lord Ganesh installed at the hospital complex, Mr. Manawapat said that Hinduism and Buddhism were also practised in Thailand. “We have larger idols of Lord Ganesh also other Hindu deities in our country and we worship them”.
The Thai envoy appreciated the hospital for rendering service to the poor and also the aged and with a less charge to many patients. The hospital’s garden and its location amidst greenery impressed him very much as it was located in the midst of nature.
He spoke on the need for direct flights between Vizag and Thailand to promote tourism.
CEO of Symbiosis Technologies O. Naresh Kumar and Medical Director of LVPEI Visakhapatnam centre Merley Fernandez were present.
Senior citizens are predisposed to have cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration which can be easily diagnosed by a comprehensive eye examination. The hospital authorities have appealed to the general public to make use of the opportunity and avail of the free screening programme.
The institute has examined 4,19,349 outpatients and performed 46,887 surgeries of which 46 per cent were absolutely free of cost, regardless of the complexity of the case. In the last one year alone, 87,406 outpatients were examined and 11,514 surgeries were performed of which 45 per cent were absolutely free of cost.
The unique component of the institute was its in-house centre for sight enhancement and vision rehabilitation centres. The hospital provided rehabilitation services to patients with incurable blindness and performed 48 per cent cataract, 10 per cent complex retinal, 15 per cent corneal, 3 per cent glaucoma, 2 per cent squint, 6 per cent oculoplasty and 16 per cent other surgeries, according to the hospital officials.
The eye screening programme will be on till September 7.
