Students showcase novel models in ‘eye care’

A group of students showcased how the buzzwords ‘technology’ and ‘innovation’ can help provide effective and affordable healthcare in the country.

At the ‘ReDx: Engineering the Eye’ workshop, which was inaugurated on Sunday, engineering students collaborated with their mentors from the medical fraternity to exhibit unique alternatives as well as newer ideas in eye care. In the workshop organised by L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Camera Culture Group and MIT Media Lab, about five potential prototype models were on display.

One such model was JULIA (Just Use Logic in Imaging App), which was developed by a team of ten members selected from various institutes from across the country. “Autorefraction and Retinoscopy are the two methods used to detect refractive errors.

The equipment is expensive and the process is time consuming,” said Venu Madhav, IIIT student and member of the project.

“We have developed a device, which if manufactured on a large scale, costs only Rs.100 per piece. This can be operated even by an illiterate person and the test results can be known immediately. We tested this on 200 people and the difference of results of our device when compared with usual equipment was minor.”

Another tool called ‘visual field testing for babies’ is a first, according to those developing it. “Babies in the age group of three months to twelve months are checked for sight issues. There is no such testing for babies available now and this will help in early detection of Glaucoma and other eye ailments,” said Prem Nandini, mentor of the group.

Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who inaugurated the workshop, assured that the State government would provide favourable conditions for entrepreneurs and suggested that students ‘Indianise’ their products for the benefit of society.

Gullapalli N. Rao, Founder-Chair, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, said that they aim to reach the most neglected citizens with the efforts.

In its third year, the programme saw about 100 participants.

The exhibits will be showcased for the next one week in Engineering Staff College of India in Gachibowli.

L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Camera Culture Group and MIT Media Lab organise ‘ReDx: Engineering the Eye’ workshop