With its Vision to provide quality eye care to all Drishti Eye Institute , has organized a Free Eye screening camp at New Tehri, on Sunday, 27th March. A team of two highly experienced Doctors and a team of well trained eye experts were deployed for the cause, to reach out to people in the district, who cannot otherwise avail expert consultation for their eyes. The team examined over 120 patients, out of which 25 adults were diagnosed with Advanced Cataract and 5 with Retinal disorder. These patients will be treated at Drishti with all modern amenities and procedures with the help of Drishti Foundation.

Highlights

• Cyclothon flagged off by Amit Kumar Sinha, IG Uttarakhand Police
• One hour of outdoor time essential for overall health: Dr Gaurav Luthra
• World Sight Day observed to spread awareness about eye health issues
• Love Your Eyes is the theme for this year's World Sight Day

Dehradun: On the occasion of World Sight Day, a Cyclothon was held in the state capital on Sunday. The event was organised by Drishti Eye Institute, in partnership with The Times of India, e-Rotary Club, Dehradun Cycling Club and Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dehradun.

The rally was flagged off by the chief guest Shri Amit Kumar Sinha, IG Uttarakhand Police. The participants included doctors IMA, Fitness Group of Doctors, Red Riding Group from Rishikesh, Dehradun Cycling Club and more.

The riders wearing t-shirts and caps sporting the theme for this year's World Sight Day – Love Your Eyes, cycled from Drishti Eye Institute, Subhash Road to Shahenshahi Ashram and pedalled back to the starting point.

Drishti Eye Institute’s Director Dr Gaurav Luthra highlighted the importance of fitness for a healthy body. “One hour of outdoor time every day – either jogging or cycling or badminton or whatever you enjoy under the open skies – can actually keep you and your eyes free of various ailments.”

World Sight Day is held annually on the second Thursday of October to spread awareness on the global issue of eye health that can be managed or addressed if intervened timely with an eye exam. This year it was observed worldwide on 14th October.

‘Love your eyes’ cyclothon organised in Dehradun on World Sight Day

Highlights

• Event inaugurated by Uttarakhand Health Minister Shri Dhan Singh Rawat
• UKSOS Gold Medal awarded to renowned ophthalmologist Dr Himanshu Mehta
• UKSOS Gold Medal awarded to AIOS Secretary Dr Namrata Sharma
• National Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021 to Dr Swapan K Samanta

Dehradun, October 16, 2021: Uttarakhand State Ophthalmological Society (UKSOS) started its two-day 18th annual conference – Uttara Eyecon 2021 on Saturday. The event was inaugurated by the Honourable Health Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Dhan Singh Rawat.

Dr Himanshu Mehta and Dr Namrata Sharma were felicitated with UKSOS Gold Medal. Dr Swapan K Samanta was awarded the National Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021.

The conference showcased one of its kind, a day full of live surgeries by the top-notch eye surgeons from all over the country. Various institutes like RP Centre, AIIMS (Delhi & Rishikesh), Drishti Eye Institute (Dehradun), Bharti Eye Foundation (New Delhi), Rajan Eye Care (Chennai), Rawat Eye & Phaco Surgery Centre (Jaipur) and Anand Hospital (Jaipur) webcasted their complex surgeries – from Cornea surgery to Retina, Laser Cataract surgery to Glaucoma valves, SMILE and Contoura Lasik.

Drishti Eye Institute (DEI), Dehradun beamed live for the event where Dr Gaurav Luthra performed a SMILE surgery, Laser technique for spectacles removal. Later, top invited surgeons from DEI along with Dr Gaurav Luthra showed the latest techniques of laser Cataract surgery and the advancements in the trifocal and continuous range of vision lens implants.

A national symposium was held for the participants that was attended by four topmost AIOS surgeons – Dr Amar Aggarwal, Chennai, Dr Partha Biswas, Kolkata, Dr Mahipal Sachdev, Chairman, Centre for Sight, New Delhi and Dr Chitra Ramamurthy, Chairperson, Eye Foundation, Coimbatore.

The panellists from all over India joined in to share their experiences and discussed the latest trends and developments in the field of ophthalmology. Dr Titiyal spoke about the benefits of SMILE and Contoura LASIK Surgery and how SMILE is now becoming the preferred choice over all other techniques of vision correction.

The programme was successfully convened by UKSOS President Dr Jaideep Datta, Honorary Secretary Dr Satanshu Mathur, Scientific Chairman Dr Vinod Arora, Chairman – Academics Dr Saurabh Luthra, Chairman - Awards Dr Gaurav Luthra and Treasurer Dr Amit Singh.

Dehradun | As the nation observed its 36th National Eye Donation Fortnight, various public awareness campaigns were launched to raise public awareness about eye donation and to motivate people to pledge their eyes towards the cause of eradicating corneal blindness.

“The main objective of observing the fortnight is to create mass public consciousness about the importance of eye donation and to motivate people to pledge their eyes for donation after death,” said Dr Saurabh Luthra, President of Dehradun Ophthalmological Society and Chairman Academics of Uttarakhand State Ophthalmological Society.

Explaining the importance of eye donation, Dr Gaurav Luthra, Medical Director, Drishti Eye Institute stated, “According to statistics, one-third of the world's blind population is in India. Nothing but eye donations can only help eradicate corneal blindness.”

Elaborating on who can be a donor for eye donation, Cornea Specialist Dr Ruchika Pattanaik said, “Cornea of a healthy eye can be donated by a deceased of any age. People who wear glasses or those who have had cataract surgery in the past can donate as well. However, a person suffering from communicable diseases – like AIDS, Hepatitis B etc – cannot donate eyes.”

Dr Ruchika in the recent months has successfully transplanted a significant number of corneas at Drishti Eye Institute. During the fortnight, people were made aware about eye donation through different mediums in the hospital premises.

However, clearing up the common conception that if a person hasn’t pledged eyes during lifetime, their eyes cannot be donated after their demise, Dr Gaurav remarked - “Anyone in the family of a deceased can volunteer to do so.”

He urged people to come forward and pledge their eyes. “Eye donation should be established as a tradition in our country so that more and more people can benefit from it,” he added.

FACTS ON EYE DONATION

• Eye donation can only be done posthumously.
• Only the cornea of the donor is taken. The process takes only 15-20 minutes.
• The deceased’s face is not disfigured after the cornea is taken.
• The team that goes to collect the cornea takes full care to not disrespect the sentiments of the loved ones.
• Everyone can donate eyes except people suffering from diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, Leukaemia etc.
• At least two people can be illuminated with one eye donation.
• Eye donation should take place within six hours of death.
• Consent of the family is mandatory for eye donation.
• Eyes can be donated even if the deceased had not formally pledged their eyes during their lifetime

देहरादून। बहुत बधाई …. देहरादून स्थित दृष्टि आई इंस्टीट्यूट को हाईजिन, इन्फेक्शन कंट्रोल और साफ-सफाई की बेहतरीन परफामेंस पर भारत सरकार के स्वास्थ्य एवं परिवार कल्याण मंत्रालय द्वारा कायाकल्प पुरस्कार से नवाजा है। क्वालिटी काउन्सिल ऑफ इंडिया ने दृष्टि के वरिष्ठ नेत्र रोग विशेषज्ञ डा गौरव लूथरा को पुरस्कृत किया है।

बता दें कि प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के स्वच्छ भारत मिशन में स्वच्छता को बढावा देने के लिये देशभर में तमाम कार्यक्रम चलाये जा रहे हैं। अस्पतालों में भी साफ-सफाई को लेकर तमाम जागरूकता के काम किये जा रहे हैं। अस्पतालों को साफ-सफाई के साथ-साथ मरीजों को उचित सुविधायें देने को लेकर काम चल रहे हैं। उत्तराखंड की राजधानी देहरादून स्थित दृष्टि आई इंस्टीट्यूट को अस्पताल में बेहतरीन साफ-सफाई (कूडा निस्तारण की सुविधा), हाईजिन, इन्फेक्शन कंट्रोल के मामले में शानदार काम करने पर कायाकल्प पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया गया है।

यह सर्टिफिकेट (सम्मान) उन्हें दिया जाता है जो अस्पताल स्वास्थ्य सेवा के छह पैरामीटर पूरे करते हों। अस्पताल स्वास्थ्य के लिये अच्छा हो, जिसमें कूडा निस्तारण की उचित व्यवस्था हो, इन्फेक्शन कंट्रोल करने तथा चिकित्सा संबंधी सभी सुविधायें मौजूद हों। दृष्टि में चिकित्सा सेवा के इन प्रमुख छह पैरामीटर का अक्षरश अनुपालन किया जाता है। दृष्टि का स्टाफ और विजिटर द्वारा सभी स्वास्थ्य, सफाई का उच्च स्तर पर ध्यान दिया जाता है। आपातकालीन स्थिति एवं दिन-प्रतिदिन की गतिविधियों पर यहां के सभी कर्मचारी, प्रशिक्षु पूरी तन्मयता से इन सभी व्यवस्थाओं का ध्यान रखते हैं। दृष्टि के वरिष्ठ नेत्र रोग विशेषज्ञ डा गौरव लूथरा ने कहा कि उनके संस्थान को पहले Pre – NABH और अब कायाकल्प सर्टिफिकेट मिलना गर्व की बात है।

Dr Gaurav Luthra, Director Drishti Eye Institute, Cataract & Laser Refractive Eye Surgeon receiving Dr Daljit Singh Gold Medal from the Honable Lt Gov of Delhi, Shri Anil Baijal at the Intraocular Implant & Refractive Society, India IIRSI, held in Delhi on September 7, 2019 

Sunday, 16th June 2019. A one day conference focusing on the most common eye disease in the elderly like Cataract Glaucome was organised by Uttarakahand State Ophthalmological Society(UKSOS) for Eye Surgeons at Hotel Pacific, Dehradun.The objective of the conference was to ​update Eye Doctors from Uttarakahnd and surrounding regions in the latest advances in Cataract and Glaucoma surgery informed Dr Saurabh Luthra, President Dehradun Ophthalmic Society. The conference turned out to be a huge sucess, with almost 120 Eye Surgeons attending the meeting where Guest Speakers of national repute include renowed Dr Partha Biswas, Chairman, Academics, & Research (ARC), All India Ophthalmic Society (AIOS), Professor Dr JS Titiyal, Head of Cornea & Refractive Surgery, AIIMS, New Delhi. Around 50 post graduate, budding Eye Surgeons, participated in various programs such as presentations in Cataract & Glaucoma, Glaucoma Debate, Opthal Quiz, (SSTC) Surgical Skill Transfer Courses and attended Guest lectures by highly experinced speakers like Dr Amit Porwal, Member Central Zone AIOS ARC, Dr A K Khurana, Rohtak and Dr Prashant Bawankule, Nagpur who spoke on various intriguing topic on cataract and glaucoma. A special Wet Lab session was also organised for the Youngh Ophthalmologists at Drishti Eye Institute opposite Hotel Pacific. The highlight of the conference was the display of "NGENUITY" system which allows Eye Surgeons to perform micro surgery with a 3 Dimensional "Virtual Reality" experience, without looking through an operating microscope. This technology is likely to revolutionixe eye surgery in the near future explained Dr Gaurav Luthra, Hony Secretary, UKSOS. Other Dignitaries present at the event include senior members and office beares of Uttarakahnd Ophthalmological Society including Dr MC Luthra, Dr Rajesh Tiwari, Dr BK Oli, Dr Vinod Arora, Dr Manisha Gupta, Dr Renu Dhasmana, Dr Dinesh Sharma, Dr GS Titiyal and several others.

The walk originated from Drishti Eye Institute at 9.00 AM on 17th March, 2019. It was flagged off by Mr. Ashok Kumar, DG (Law & Order), Uttarakhand Police. Over 200 persons including Rotarians, Doctors, SJA Alumni members and Glaucoma patients joined the walk.  Other dignitaries who represented their organizations at the Walkathon included Dr.Sanjay Goyal, President, IMA and its Secretary, Dr.Vijay Tyagi, members of Dehradun Ophthalmological Society, Harinder Juneja, President, Rotary E Club Doon 3080, Mr Randheer Arora, President, SJA Alumni Association, Dr.Anugya Agrawal, Dr.Gyanendra Singh and Dr. M S Sekhon among others.t for the occasion was  Shri. Ashok Kumar DG Uttarakhand Police. More than 200 people participated in the event.

The staff members including doctors of Drishti Eye Institute came together for a cause on Gandhi Jayanti by donating blood at St Joseph’s Academy.

Almost 35 employees of the eye hospital volunteered for the noble exercise.

Among the donors were Dr Gaurav and Dr Saurabh Luthra, both are ex-Josephites.

Blood donation is not only a superior cause but it has other benefits as it lowers the risk of ailments like Heart diseases and Cancer. Beside this, a complementary health examination in terms of blood pressure, hemoglobin levels etc is done as well.
The staff was in high spirits to contribute their bit for the camp.

Drishti Eye Institute organized a Glaucoma Awareness Walkathon, on Sunday 11th March, 2018 under the aegis of Drishti foundation and in association with SJA Alumni Association, Rotary E Club Dehradun 3080 & Rotary Club Dehradun.

Glaucoma is an eye condition where patients do not realize that they are being affected by the disease until they become either partially or completely blind. "Today we are able to detect Glaucoma at its earliest stage, saving vision of millions people. Regular eye checkups and healthy lifestyle is a must for restricting the disease.” said Dr Neelam Verma, Senior Glaucoma Consultant, Drishti Eye Institute

"The Walkathon, an icon event of the World Glaucoma Week, includes- aware citizens, Ophthalmologists, Glaucoma patients and other supporters intending to augment awareness about the vision threatening disorder, Glaucoma.” said Dr Gaurav Luthra, Director, Drishti Eye Institute

Every year similar walks are scheduled worldwide to beat ignorance against Glaucoma. "Glaucoma (Kala Motia) is the second commonest cause for blindness worldwide. In India alone, the estimated number of glaucoma patients is over 12 million. People over 40 years of age, with family history of glaucoma, diabetes or high blood pressure are at a greater risk of developing glaucoma." explained Dr Saurabh Luthra, Senior Consultant and Director at Drishti Eye Institute, Dehradun.

The walk originated from Drishti Eye Institute, from its premises at 9.00 AM on 11th March, 2018. It was flagged off by the IG Uttarakhand police Mr Amit Sinha and Dr M.C Luthra, Chairman, Drishti Eye Institute.

Besides the walk, Drishti Eye Institute is also running a special free Glaucoma screening camp, from 11th-17th March, 2018 at Drishti Eye Institute, 16, Subhash Road, Astley Hall, Dehradun from morning 9 to 10 AM every day

Dr M.S Sekhon, Dr Mrinal Shankar, Dr Akansha Mehrotra , Dr Priyanshi Multani and Dr Gyanendra V Singh were also present on the occasion.

Uttara Eyecon- 2017, the 14th annual conference of Uttarakhand State Ophthalmological Society (UKSOS) concluded successfully at Hotel Radisson Blu Haridwar on Sunday 17th of September.

The 3 day conference had almost 250 doctor delegates from Uttarakhand and surrounding states besides 40 renowned faculty from all over the country participating in scientific deliberations and wetlabs.

The annual meeting of all eye surgeons of Uttarakhand was inaugurated by Shri Madan Kaushik, Cabinet minister for Urban Planning, Uttarakhand, while Dr Jagat Ram, Director of PGI Chandigarh, was the Guest of Honour for the occasion.

Dr C Shekhar Grover was installed as the new President of the Society while Dr Gaurav Luthra was appointed as the Honorary General Secretary.

The prestigious Dr M C Luthra, Gold Medal for best paper presentation 2017 was won by Dr Deepak Mishra, while the Dr Satanshu Mathur Best Video Award was won by Dr R P Singh.

Scientific sessions on Laser Refractive Surgery, including latest advancements on removal of glasses through (SMILE) laser surgery, Retina surgery, Laser surgery for Cataract, Glaucoma and Diabetic retinopathy were the centre of attraction.

More than 200 papers were presented on various topics such as refractive surgery, cataract and retina surgery. Noted speakers emphasised on various issues such as importance of eye donation and guidelines on prevention of loss of vision from Glaucoma (Kala Motia).

Dr Gaurav Luthra, Honorable General Secretary, UKSOS,said that "The Conference was a huge success with a total attendance of over 300 participants including a large trade delegation contributing their share towards eye healthcare services in Uttarakhand."

Drishti Eye Institute organized its annual Conference, Drishticon 2017 recently. On Saturday, August 26th “IMA Drishticon -2017” was held at Hotel Madhuban for the doctors of Indian Medical Association, Dehradun. The theme for the IMA Drishticon-2017 was “Ophthalmology Update- What’s current? What’s new?” Several invited faculty of national repute besides the team of specialists from Drishti interacted with IMA doctors to bring out the latest in ophthalmology for their benefit. Sunday’s sessions were for eye surgeons including a “Live Surgery” session on SMILE LASIK.

During live surgery at Drishti, surgeons interacted with over 100 doctors via direct telecast explaining the benefits of SMILE over Lasik. First surgery was performed by Dr Rupal Shah from Baroda who is the pioneer of SMILE. Other surgeons who performed Live SMILE surgery were Dr Sheetal Brar and Dr Gaurav Luthra, Senior consultant, Drishti Eye Institute

Dr Kumar Doctor from Mumbai delivered the Dr M.C Luthra oration on the latest advancements in cataract surgery.

‘ZEPTO’ likely to be a game changer for cataract surgeries, says Dr Luthra

The surgery that Dr Luthra demonstrated today is the new surgery for cataract which has just been introduced worldwide. It has come to India first and still not available in the US. It was in trials for last 3 years but it was launched only 3 months back after all the approvals

‘ZEPTO’ likely to be a game changer for cataract surgeries, says Dr Luthra

At Bombay Ophthalmologists Association’ FOCUS 2017 Silver Jubilee Conference, Dr Gaurav Luthra, President, Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India, was one of the 17 eye surgeons who performed live surgery at Sir JJ Hospital that was relayed at Hyatt Regency, Sahara, Mumbai. He demonstrated a new cataract surgery called ZEPTO.

“The ZEPTO cataract surgery which I demonstrated today is the new surgery for cataract which has just been introduced worldwide. It has come to India first and still not available in the US. It was in trials for last 3 years but it was launched only 3 months back after all the approvals. It is called ZEPTO cataract surgery. During the live surgery, I demonstrated two things- ZEPTO and a new type of lens which is introduced recently Tridiff,” said Dr Luthra.

About the surgery, Dr Luthra explained that it is a new innovation for one of the critical step of cataract called capsulorhexis. “When we do cataract surgery, one of the steps which is critical is called capsulorhexis. If you don’t have a perfect capsulorhexis you cannot put the lens properly in the eye and the result will be compromised,” said Dr Luthra.

Normally capsulrohexis used to be done manually using fine needle, informed Dr Luthra.

 “This machine is able to give perfect rehxis. It has a success rate of 99.9%. There are two aspects of the capsulorhexis with ZEPTO. One is that it gives perfect rhexis and dependability. The other is that it is consistent and gives you 100% surety. The perfect rhexis is stronger than what you can do manually and it is affordable,” said Dr Luthra.

He further said that laser cataract surgeries can also give a perfect rhexis but is cost prohibitive. “We can make perfect rhexis with laser surgery cataract but everyone can’t afford it. But with the introduction of ZEPTO, the surgery is now affordable. It is likely to be a game changer for all cataract surgeries,” said Dr Luthra. ‘ZEPTO’ likely to be a game changer for cataract surgeries, says Dr Luthra Dr Gaurav Luthra, President, Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India

Talking about the lens he used in the live surgery, Dr Luthra said it is a special lens called Tridiff lens. “Normally, when we put lens in the eye for cataract surgery we use monofocal lenses. With a monofocal lens all you can see is things that are at a distance. But one has to use reading glasses and computer glasses too. So after cataract surgery, people have to use bifocal or trifocal lens, which are not comfortable and many people don’t like it,” said Dr Luthra. He said the whole aim of doing cataract is to give good vision.

“Now, there are three focuses that is near intermediate and distance. And Tridiff lens has all 3 focuses in it. Which enables people to read, work on a computer and see at a distance without glasses.Tridiff is advanced technology lens made in India and exported worldwide,” said Dr Luthra.

Drishti Eye Institute on Sunday 30th July 2017 conducted a ‘Free Diabetic Retinopathy’ Screening camp for persons suffering from diabetes.

The camp started in the morning from 10 am at Drishti eye institute. More than100 Diabetic patient’s eyes were screened and 15 patients were detected with Diabetic retinopathy by Retina specialist of Drishti Eye Institute.

Due to lack of awareness in eye diseases and poor affordability, many patients are unable to get the right treatment on time.

Drishti Eye Institute regularly organizes various camps & programs for patients suffering from eye diseases. In this camp also Drishti’s Retina specialists have detected 15 diabetic retinopathy patients and were able to save their vision by giving the right treatment on time.

Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye condition triggered by diabetes, leading to vision threatening damage to the retina. People with both diabetes and high blood pressure are even more likely to be affected by this disorder.

According to Dr Saurabh Luthra, Director & Senior Retina Consultant, Drishti Eye Institute, “Absence of any early symptoms of this potentially blinding disease makes its screening even more imperative, helping in timely diagnosis and treatment.”

Among the doctors present for the camp were Dr MC Luthra, chairman Drishti group, Dr Saurabh Luthra, Director & Senior Retina Consultant, Dr Mrinal Shankar, Dr Aditya Bansal .They were assisted by a team of optometrists from Drishti Eye Institute.

A free eye checkup camp was organized at Gurudwara Poanta Sahib by Drishti Foundation, Dehradun and Rotary E-Club Doon. According to the event organizers, more than 300 poor patient’s eyes were examined by the eye specialists of Drishti Eye Institute, Dehradun.

The camp started in the morning and concluded in the afternoon with visitors being provided with the organizers facilitating examination, counseling and distribution of free medicines for the camp patients. Among the doctors present for the camp were Drishti group chairman Dr MC Luthra, Dr Gaurav Luthra, Dr Neelam Verma and others.