Activities at Central Hub at Sankara Nethralaya

1. Specialist Ophthalmologist offers Expert Opinion
2. Continuing Medical Education
3. Telementored Surgery / Procedure

Activities at Camp site (Rural Mobile Tele-ophthalmology unit)

Patients Registration

• With support from Camp sponsors, local volunteers (mostly students from schools and colleges) record the patient's details like name, age and address in the case sheet. Camp patients are then given identity cards.

Vision Screening

• The patients who are registered undergo screening by Sankara Nethralaya Social Worker
• Vision charts, such as the Snellen and E type charts are used for screening.
• Based on the results of screening, patients are selected for Tele-consultation with the Central Hub. Other patients, who do not require consultation by specialist ophthalmologists, are sent for a Refractive Examination.

• A specialist Refractionist from Sankara Nethralaya carries out a Comprehensive refractory examination. Apart from this, a slit lamp examination is carried out and Intra Ocular Pressure of the patient is checked. Those who need / prescribed glasses (spectacles) are sent to the Optical Service and those who need Tele-consultation from our Ophthalmologist at our Central Hub are sent to the next step.

Tele-consultations

• Fundus Picture and Indirect Ophthalmoloscope pictures are taken and along with patients’ details transferred to Sankara Nethralaya-Central Hub (Batch of 5 patients). After Video Conference is connected with the central Hub, patients, Refractionist and the Consultant at Sankara Nethralaya -Central Hub discuss about the patients problem. The Ophthalmologist at Sankara Nethralaya makes the final diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Optical Service

• Facilitates patients who are prescribed glasses (spectacles) to buy scientifically tested quality glasses in the campsite.
• Our trained personnel make suitable lens with the help of the grinding machine, mounts the lens in the frames chosen by the patients and delivers the finished spectacles to the patients on the spot.

Counseling

• Patients counseled at the campsite.
• Eligibility criteria for free surgery is explained to the patients

Awareness Meeting

• The following short films are screened at the campsite between 7 & 8 pm.
  1. A film on Eye Donation – starring Super Star Rajinikanth
  2. A film on Diabetic Retinopathy – starring Shri Subbu Arumugam – Villu Pattu Artiste
  3. Cataract & Glaucoma / Diabetic Retinopathy Presentation
• All through the program, our Refractionist and Social workers are available to answer any questions.

Flowchart of Rural Mobile Teleophthalmology