EyeCare

Good eye’s donation by Pataudi

2011-12-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi ruled over world cricket with one good eye. He is no more but the eye will continue to live, because the legendary cricketer had decided to donate it. His left eye having been retrieved within hours after his death on September 22, 2011 – with the family’s consent – was preserved in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital’s eye bank. Pataudi’s right eye was damaged permanently in a car accident when he was 20 years old. The 70-year-old cricketer (husband of actor Sharmila Tagore and father of actor Saif Ali Khan) was diagnosed with a debilitating lung infection a few months ago

Dr. Narendra Kumar
Editor, Optometry Today

On hardships

2011-12-11T04:07:00.000-08:00

Leaving aside the issue of the non-introduction of Government legislation to regulate the practice of optometry even after its introduction in the country way back in the year 1958, let me this time focus on the miseries of the average citizen.

Land-line phone going dead or disturbance creeping in, daily newspaper full of crime stories, market flooding with counterfeit currency notes, blatant encroachment on public land, menace of unauthorized weekly markets, rising inflation, and above all frequent electric load-shedding…all play the nerve-racking game like the childish bickering of our legislators in the parliament, forgetting, and not caring, about the basic issues to provide some relief to the common man in terms of food, clothing and dwelling. Yes, God is surely there; otherwise how could life go on in the face of such hardships?

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Today's India

2011-09-07T03:46:00.000-07:00

Just as optometry in India continues to suffer in an atmosphere of non-regulated practice despite its having been introduced more than half-a-century ago in 1950s, the contents of my amateurish poem in Hindi, `Aaj ka Bharat’, written in 1980s, continue to depict a picture of events that still hold good after so many years!

Dr. Narendra Kumar
OptometryToday@gmail.com

Winning over disability!

2011-08-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

Visually challenged children form a human pyramid to break a clay pot during the dahi-handi celebration ahead of Janamshtmi in Mumbai on August 20, 2011. Source: Hindistan Times.

And, optometry, despite odds, continues to render useful service to community via various avenues like ophthals’ clinics, own private set-ups, hospitals, MNCs, teaching institutions, and dispensing optical outlets!

Dr. Narendra Kumar
OptometryToday@gmail.com

Optometry's dilemma

2011-08-22T23:26:00.001-07:00

Like this beautiful, but submerged, hut on the banks of swollen Ganga in Allahabad, optometry, the first line of defense against blindness, continues to suffer in the non-regulated atmosphere in India, the largest democracy in the world!

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Baring it all to grab eyeballs

2011-07-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

While I don’t believe in the daring act of baring it all to grab eyeballs, as resorted to by French footballers facing defending champions Germany at the Women’s World Cup in Berlin recently (Picture shows Gaetine Thiny in Bild as reported by Hindustan Times, July 4, 2011), optometrists in India perhaps need to do something unique to juggle out government authorities from their hibernation to be able to rise to the just demand of introducing legislation to regulate the practice of optometry – primary eye care – in the hands of those qualified!

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Spensthrift or economiser?

2011-04-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

My rolling in the left-over shaving cream to one end and cutting the tube in two parts was being observed in disbelief by my 11-year-old grandson; but when I explained that the remaining part of the gel would suffice for leathering my beard for at least 10 days, he was really impressed and said: “Gandhi ji, too, used to utilise for rough work papers printed or typed on one side!” Now, I don’t mind if someone labels me as a `spendthrift’ as I consider myself to be an `economiser’.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Do you believe in short-cuts?

2010-09-02T18:26:00.001-07:00

Morning walk is supposedly the best exercise that doesn’t cost a penny and helps you out with the effective mobility of all your body joints, better blood circulation and increased vitality.

Prior to visiting the religious shrines Badrinath and Kedarnath, I had consistently tried to increase the duration of my walk to be able to cope up better with the otherwise well-laid path of the hilly terrain! (Picture shows family eager to start the voyage).

When we go, say, to a nearby park for a morning walk, the idea is to walk as much as we can. But we seem to have become so used to taking short-cuts in almost every walk of life that while covering the inner boundary of the park, we turn to extreme right while taking a right turn forgetting that we in India traditionally follow the `keep to the left’ rule.

This type of short-cut (that reduces our walking distance) is not only against the goal of walking `as much as you can’ but also puts the person coming from the opposite direction in trouble.

So, the next time while embarking on our voyage to morning walk let us ask ourselves, “Do I really need to take a short-cut?”

Dr. Narendra Kumar
OptometryToday@gmail.com

Avoid the `easier' approach!

2010-05-02T22:54:00.000-07:00

I would like readers of the eye care blog to go through the above editorial from Vol. 36, No. 1, March 2010 issue of Optometry Today quarterly journal.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Optometry course announcement

2010-04-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

The Registrar, Student Registration Division, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068 invites applications for BSc (Hons) Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques (of School of Health Sciences) and Diploma in Optometry (of Centre for Para-Medical Sciences) courses, at a Regional Centre (say at F 634-636 Palam Extension, Ramphal Chowk [Near Sector 7 Dwarka], New Delhi 110045, Ph 25088939).

Dr. Narendra Kumar
OptometryToday@gmail.com

Veterinary Ophthalmology Conference

2010-04-08T01:12:00.000-07:00

May 13-16, 2010 are the dates for the European Veterinary Ophthalmology Conference, Ireland, covering the topics of Eyelids, Large animal ophthalmology, Cataract surgery and Hereditary eye diseases. For further information, contact info@evo2010.com

Dr. Narendra Kumar
Editor, Optometry Today
OptometryToday@gmail.com

Make the accompanying child busy while attending to your patient

2010-04-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

Recently while attending a young contact lens patient whose child was not sitting at one place, I asked the kid about his interest in drawing and handed him a writing pad and a pen to draw something. I could then concentrate on the patient while the child was busy in the creative work illustrated here!

Dr. Narendra Kumar
ophthacare@gmail.com

Is this an `N’ or an inverted `Z’?

2010-03-11T03:22:00.000-08:00

Many years ago I ordered my golden ring with the letter `S’ (to signify the first letter of the name of my wife Sheela) inscribed on it. But, since `S’ is also the first letter of the names of my three sister-in-laws, I changed the inscription to `N’. My co-brother jokingly borrowed my ring and showing the inverted `Z’ told my father-in-law that he got it as a present from Zenith at Khopoli where he worked as an engineer! So, we see the answer depends on the way we look at things.

Although optometry was introduced in India way back in 1958, not only public awareness of the term is highly lacking, even many ophthalmologists address an optometrist as an optician. And, step-motherly treatment meted out to the primary eye care profession by the Government in delaying the introduction of legislation to regulate its practice is supposedly the biggest drawback in creating this wrong perception.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

What’s this?

2010-03-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

Ever since joining Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, as Refractionist in the year 1962, my life revolved round optometry by way of attending to a never-ending stream of patients, helping establish Indian Optometric Association, taking up the publication of Optometry Today in the interest of the betterment of the profession, studying for a degree course in (ayurvedic) medicine to broaden the sphere of my working, and ultimately settling down in private ptactice as a part of the clinic run by my ophthalmologist son Maneesh (ophthacare@gmail.com).

But, there’s certainly life as well beyond optometry! Encouraged by my long-forgotten passion for art, coupled with the family’s interest in `Dance India dance’ programme on TV, I leisurely tried out my hand on a creation making use of `waste’ strands of threads and glass-paint. Now, can someone help me out with its title?

Dr. Narendra Kumar

`Babloo…’ eye care publication

2009-10-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

Addressing the eye-care issue to a young child in a simple, amusing but factual style, which children find both fun and reassuring, is the core idea behind the small, illustrated booklet `Babloo goes for an eye-test’ – authored by Dr. Narendra Kumar and published by Optometry Today for the charitable trust Eye Care India.

Besides being a maiden effort in writing for children on eye-care, the purpose is to create the much-needed eye-care awareness. And the highlighted areas include School, Cricket, T.V., Animal welfare, Veterinary doctor, Pharmaceutical drops, Eye doctor (Optometrist-Ophthalmologist), Battery torch, Retinoscope, Ophthalmoscope, Distant vision test types, Spectacle frame, and Plastic ophthalmic lenses.

To promote the concept of basic eye-care, the booklet is intended to be subscribed by nursery and primary school libraries as well by eye care professionals for their reception areas. It has been acclaimed both in India and in overseas countries, and was recently featured in the widely-read Italian optical magazine Vedere International, May 2009 issue. And will soon be available for “free” download on the website http://optometrytoday.org

Dr. Narendra Kumar

On hardships

2009-07-30T23:44:00.001-07:00

Home decor

2009-07-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

Besides the best possible clinical set-up, the eye care professional tries to maintain certain decor at home as well. And, the soft, serene surroundings in the most-commonly-occupied area of the house, the lobby - like a work of nature’s photograph - are eye- and soul-soothing for the entire family.

The picture depicts the 65”x44” framed photo of Hyde Park London supplied by Podar Group of Concerns, Mumbai (ajaypodar@hotmail.com).

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Medical tourism to India

2009-05-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Economic slowdown has affected innumerable persons the world-over. Those affected in the West appear to have started trimming household expenditures to save up for a needed surgery as also to wait longer to undergo the scalpel.

The encouraging factor is that the surgical expertise in India matches the best available elsewhere, and procedures like cataract removal by phacoemulsification and oculo-plastic surgery for Ptosis correction at a private centre in Delhi, along with the air fare, cost much less than what one would otherwise have paid at home. “The costs in India are about half of that in the West, and the surgical expertise comparable to the best elsewhere”, says ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Maneesh Kumar (ophthacare@gmail.com).

The picture shows the condition of pre- and post-operative bilateral Ptosis.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

CLEP

2009-05-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

Although optometry was introduced in India way back in the year 1958, and there are now around 100 institutions imparting training ranging in duration between 2 and 4 years leading to diploma and degree qualifications respectively, the subject of contact lenses is not covered in the 2-year diploma in optometry course, and diploma-optometrists, thus, find themselves at a disadvantage when they enter into practice or serve at an establishment.

The charitable trust Eye Care India (kumars@vsnl.com) conducts 3-day (15-hour) Contact Lens Education Program – CLEP – for diploma optometrists covering the theoretical and practical aspects of the basics of contact lens fitting. And the photograph shows the participants of one such event held at School of Optometry, Jan Kalyan Eye Hospital, Lucknow.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Explore the market in India

2009-04-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

Even in the face of economic downturn, the ceiling for luxury foods in India continues to rise, e.g., while a liquor brand readies to launch a Rs.20 lakh (US $ 40,000) per bottle whisky in Delhi, local vegetable sellers continue to find buyers for guchchi (a rare mushroom) that comes for Rs.19,000/- (US $ 380) a kg. And the same is true for opticals and other eye- and hearing-care products.

At the time of my 2005 visit to International Optical Fair Tokyo, one exhibitor remarked, “we make expenstive frames, and India is hardly the market for these”, to which I replied, “India houses the poorest of the poor as also richest of the rich people”.

Optometry Today quarterly journal is currently accepting advertisements for its June 2008 issue under “1+1” offer, whereby the ad will be repeated free in September 2009 issue. Advertising on special positions like `Centre-spead’ and `Cover’ pages is booked on first-come-first-served basis, and details of advertising can be requested from

And although deadline to receive material is 31st May 2009, the earlier the space is booked the better.

Optometry Today, the official organ of Eye Care India, has been in publication since 1970.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

The festival of colours

2009-03-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Over the years, the holy festival of `holi’ has turned unholy because of the use of harmful colours necessitating advice from ophthalmologist Dr. Umesh Bareja of Sitaram Bhartiya Institute of Science & Research for the use of disposable contact lenses to protect eyes from chemicals-infested colours.

Gone are the days when the festival of colours used to be looked upon as the time of saying `hello’ even to foes. And the urge of using milk instead of colours by maker of Paras Milk is pleasantly striking!

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Colors of Mansi

2009-03-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

While studying for MBA at Amity University, Noida, Mansi Gupta did her summer training at Bausch & Lomb Eyecare (India) Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon. And having had this exposure to contact lenses, she completed an overseas contact lens company-sponsored research study on “Low market share of gas-permeable contact lenses in India”, that was highly applauded. Currently working as HR Officer at ICI Paints Ltd., Gurgaon, she has recently been presented with a specially-designed “It’s for you in 2009” table calendar by a recruitment associate, that truly speaks of the `Colors of Mansi’.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Pat Price is no more

2009-03-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

It was in 2005 that Ms. Pat Price was in contact with me regarding my presentation on one of the Accessible World symposiums that somehow couldn't take place. Pat was a friend of Hank (Professor Henry W Hofstetter) who was a friend of mine ever since he visited India, accompanied by his wife Jane, in 1970.

I'm grieved to hear about the passing away of Pat Price (on February 1, 2009) who worked selflessly to serve the interests of blind and visually-handicapped persons, and pray to God to give courage to her husband Marv Price to bear the irreparable loss and for the departed soul to rest in peace.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Eye Check-up Camp

2009-02-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

At the Eye Check-up Camp organized on World Sight Day, 8th October 2007, by Sri Sathya Sai Sewa Organization (of New Delhi) at MCD Primary School in Vikaspuri, Dr. Narendra Kumar, Trustee, Eye Care India, flanked by volunteers, examined 138 students, and those with ‘departures from normal’ were advised as under:

Rx for antibiotic eye drops - 12
Rx for vitamin B-complex - 13
Rx for multi-vitamin tabs. - 1
Advice for checking up of patency of lacrimal passage - 1
Advice for refraction check-up - 20
Advice for orthoptic check-up - 1
Advice for fundus examination - 2

There was one case each of the following conditions:

Sub-conjunctival haemorrhage
Blephritis
Suspected blockage of lacrimal duct

It was observed that attending to such students belonging to poor families will become more meaningful when rather than mere advice, there’s provision for free

1. Distribution of antibiotic eye drops & multivitamin preparations and
2. Professional refraction check-ups followed by dispensing of spectacles.

But since this exercise needs adequate funds, it was felt that there’s urgent need of contributions from corporate houses / funding organizations.

The picture shows (above) Dr. Kumar doing retinoscopy, and (below) students waiting for their turn at the Camp.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

History of Optometry in India

2009-02-24T05:36:00.000-08:00

The Optometry Today’s website http://education.vsnl.com/optometry/ carries the brief history of optometry in India. And the illustration depicts the Near Vision Test Type narrating the `history’. The above reading test type was published by Optometry Today in 1993, and a copy of this chart is available free-of-charge to the subscribers of the quarterly journal till stock lasts.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

East meets west

2009-02-08T23:39:00.000-08:00

On my visit to the US (in August 2007, accompanied by my wife Sheela), I took a stop-over at London. While taking a stroll in St. Georges Centre, Harrow, Middlesex, I casually stepped inside Boots Opticians practice to say hallo, and was pleasantly greeted by dispensing optician Mohammed Raza Alidina: “Are you Dr. Narendra Kumar? I have read your letters in Optician several times.”

In USA, on my visit to Southern College of Optometry at Memphis, I was greeted by Dr. Willis Maples: “I can now put a face to a name.” (I was in correspondence with Dr. Maples, but we had never met before!). The picture shows me with Dr. Pinakin Gunvant (left) and Dr. Maples (centre).

Dr. Narendra Kumar

A well-known name in Audiology

2009-02-06T06:28:00.000-08:00

After completing MSc (Speech & Hearing) from All India Institute of Speech & Hearing, Mysore, Satyendra Kumar served first at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi and then at Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Hard of Hearing, edited Hearing Aid Journal, and obtained MPhil from UK on a fellowship.

Then migrating to the US, suffering the unfortunate passing away of his wife Bhavana Gupta (also an Audiologist), admirably bringing up daughter Shobhana and son Sameer, and completing AuD (Doctorate in Audiology) from A. T. Still University, is a long story

Dr. Satyendra Kumar works with ENT Surgeon Dr. Bindra, is a well-known name in Audiology in India, and is the editor of audiology section of Optometry Today quarterly journal.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

2009-02-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

The veteran British journalist Shelagh Hardy extensively quotes the editor of Optometry Today in his article `India - Superpower of the future’, and presents an optimistic view about ophthalmic optics in India, in February 2009 issue of Optical World, supposedly having the largest circulation worldwide.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Photograph print for charity funding

2009-02-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

The photograph taken at the Birds Park in Singapore by me has been set aside to raise funds for the charitable trust Eye Care India. Colour prints are available in A4 size @ Rs.3,000/- (US $ 75) from Optometry Today, C4F/216 Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058, Phone +91-11-25599839

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Dr. Grover receives `Padma Shri’ award

2009-01-27T07:29:00.000-08:00

An ophthalmologist of repute, the gem of a person, a distinguished orator-cum-teacher, and the chairman of the department of ophthalmology, with whom I had the privilege to work as Refractionist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, Dr. A. K. Grover has been bestowed with the `Padma Shri’ award this year. My heartiest congratulations!

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Non-regulated practice of optometry

2009-01-27T05:25:00.000-08:00

As depicted in this cartoon from Optometry Today, January-March 1974 issue, optometrists have been struggling for getting the profession recognized in a country where anyone can open an optical shop without training or registration. Are the authorities listening and will they care to see to the redressal of the plight of our people receiving inadequate vision care services from non-qualified providers?

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Optometrists’ CVs

2009-01-24T23:47:00.000-08:00

Optical outlets, ophthalmologists, companies and organizations keep on contacting Optometry Today from time to time for suitable candidates. Interested optometrists may, therefore, send their resumes to to be passed on to outlets looking for such information.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Manufacturer’s deficient service

2009-01-21T23:18:00.000-08:00

It was in 1970’s when I was working as Refractionist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi that my orthoptist colleague mentioned about the ordeal faced by her in neither getting the Synoptophore ordered by her nor getting the amount back that she had long ago paid as advance to a manufacturer of ophthalmic instruments. On my writing to the supplier, as editor of Optometry Today, about his comments on the complaint within a specified period of time, the advance-amount was paid back instantly, but the regular advertising in OT was also cancelled. Not only this, one fine morning, there was a sarcastic call to the effect: “Congratulations, your name is being considered for `Padmashree’ award”. I admit, I don’t have a Godfather who could work towards my getting the prestigious national award, but I do know that my self-less service to eye care profession, trade and industry in India has surely earned me friends not only from within the country but also from around the world, and Optometry Today, too, has earned a respectable name.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Strange are the ways of life

2009-01-19T05:44:00.001-08:00

“Start no new project on a Tuesday”, used to say my ophthalmologist-boss in 1970’s. “Don’t get your hair-cut done on a Thursday”, says my wife. “Don’t embark on a journey”, says my mother-in-law. “Don’t dare wear a neelam”, cautioned a friend in 1960’s. “He won’t study for more than the 3rd standard”, an astrologer told my pitaji when I was a child. “You won’t visit an overseas country”, forecasted someone long long ago. Diwali and New Year greeting cards are received every year from a relative only after formal celebrations are over. Truly strange are the ways of life! (Picture shows me with wife Sheela at an optical show-room in Tokyo in 2005).

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Wrong presentation

2009-01-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

A person called in recently saying that he was an optometrist, and wanted his son (who was having squint) to be examined by the ophthalmologist at our eye clinic. The receptionist gave him 50% discount in fee. Later it turned out that he was not an optometrist, but had merely possessed FDOA. It appears that persons having undergone such short-term courses in opticianry invariably present themselves as optometrists, and the practice is derogatory to the professional growth of qualified optometry.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Anyone can write

2008-12-29T07:29:00.000-08:00

Although there are around 100 optometric institutions across the country offering courses ranging in duration from 2 to 4 years leading to diploma and degree qualifications respectively, there’s hardly any institute to impart accredited training in opticianry.

And “the introduction of Government legislation to regulate the practice of optometry” not in immediate sight, it’s imperative that there be a text on basics of ophthalmic dispensing optics for the benefit of the bulk of unqualified opticians…with the ultimate aim of our people to receive better eyewear dispensing services from anywhere within the country.

It’s, therefore, proposed to bring out an ophthalmic dispensing book covering basic information on all aspects of ophthalmic dispensing along with relevant information in brief on related topics of anatomy and physiology of the eye, refractive errors and common eye diseases, and low vision aids and contact lenses etc.

To start with, this is an open invitation for anyone to contribute on the topic of “Frame materials”.

A write-up of 500 to 1,000 words, along with figures/illustrations, may be forwarded to OptometryToday@gmail.com by the deadline of 31st January 2009. The selected write-up will be included in the book along with the name of the contributing author, thus giving him/her the opportunity of being a part of this exciting educational project.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Happy 2009

2008-12-26T23:35:00.000-08:00

The "50th Anniversary of Indian Optometry Year 2008", December 2008 issue of Optometry Today carries the following interesting material:

- Dr. Hari Om Rastogi's narration of the optometric history
- Articles on
Enhancing optometry through internet,
Nutrition and vision,
Institution profile,
Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage,
Perfect fit of glasses,
Silicone hydrogel contact lenses,
Photochromic lenses,
Top 10 most beautiful eyes,
Normal age related vision changes,
A primer on vitamins,
Communicating with hard-of-hearing patients
- Book reviews
- Newsline
- Placement Guide
- Letters

The Year 2008 also saw the publication of my "Babloo goes for an eye test" book for children, parents and teachers.

Wishing you a very happy and prosperous 2009 full of peace and professional satisfaction,

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Recumbent Spectacles

2008-12-12T06:43:00.000-08:00

Optometry Today (C4F/216 Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058, Phone +91-11-25599839 <OptometryToday@gmail.com>), maker of Ptosis Spectacle (to lift drooping upper lid), Hearing Aid Cords, and Ear Plugs (to muffle sound), announces the launch of Recumbent Spectacles (the device, consisting of optical prisms [that do not magnify], that allows bed-ridden patients to read, write notes and watch TV while lying down).

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Well done Professor Dipti Gogate

2008-11-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

It's indeed good to know that Optom. Dipti Gogate is now a "Professor in Optometry" at Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune. To keep the records straight, however, I must say that Optom. N. Sukumaran is supposed to be the first person to have enjoyed the status of a "Professor" at Aravind Eye Hospitals, Madurai. Nevertheless, Dipti is surely the "First Woman Professor", and my heartiest congratulations to her for bringing laurels to optometry in India. Dipti seems to be having a natural urge to keep herself informed. Long long ago, when she was a BSc (Hons) Ophthalmic Techniques student at Dr. R. P. Centre of Ophthalmic Sciences in New Delhi, she came to me for becoming a life-subscriber to Optometry Today (the September 2008 issue of which carries names of 50 optometrists who kept optometry in India invigorating - notably among these being Amod Gogate, N Sukumaran and Rajesh Wadhwa).

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Teleophthalmology at Sankara Nethralaya

2008-10-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

The mobile teleophthalmology works by way of a mobile unit with essential equipment for comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist coupled with the facility of interacting with ophthalmologists at Sankara Nethralaya for the diagnosis and management of eye problems.

There is the requirement of optometrists for Chennai and Kolkata units. To apply, contact Mohan Sundaram at mohan@snmail.org

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Oculo-plastic surgeon in Delhi

2008-10-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

There may not be very many cases of "drooping upper lid". But as the maker of "Ptosis Spectacle", I get referrals from far and wide places. And although the Ptosis spectacle, with so-to-say non-conspicuous sturdy nylon thread, is an effective mechanical aid, it's my advice to go in for this modality of correction only when the oculo-plastc surgeon decides against correcting the defect by way of surgical intervention.

And Dr. Maneesh Kumar, MS (Ophtho), Fellow-Oculoplasty (kumars@vsnl.com) is one surgeon who has operated upon patients suffering from Ptosis (who were referred for Ptosis spectacle) with beautiful results.

Surprisingly, many eye care professionals, including some general ophthalmic surgeons, do not seem to be aware of the ophthalmic super specialty of oculoplasty!

Dr. Narendra Kumar

The Spectacle Frame

2008-10-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

Spectacle frame - the essential component of corrective glasses - now comes in bewitching designs in varied materials and colours to serve as an accessory to see through comfortably as also to be looked at admiringly.

Whether it be for myopia or hyperopia, glasses are usually meant for constant use by youngsters. In presbyopia, one needs to wear glasses either for near work, as a bifocal, or in the form of a no-line progressive power lens.

Contact lenses of course are an invisible correction for all types of refractive errors.

Coming back to the spectacles, the "Sania Mirza" rectangular, thick, black frame is still in demand by youngsters in India. And in the US, people are going crazy in their demand for "Sarah Palin" rectangular, rimless, titanium frame - from the Japanese designer Kazuo Kawasaki - the former beauty queen and the Republican nominee for vice-presidentship of USA wears.

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Children's eye care booklet

2008-10-16T04:10:00.000-07:00

"Babloo goes for an eye test" written by Dr. Narendra Kumar has been been published by Optometry Today for the charitable trust Eye Care India to promote the concept of basic eye care. The illustrated booklet is intended to be subscribed by nursery and primary school libraries as also by eye care professionals for their reception areas. Priced at Indian Rupees 200 (or at US $ 50 by air-mail to overseas countries), the booklet is available from Optometry Today OptometryToday@gmail.com

Dr. Narendra Kumar

Need of providing comprehensive eye care to the poor at discounted rate

2008-10-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

Having done vision screenings of thousands of school children, I can say that nearly 40% of students suffer from some form of departure from the normal. The next logical step should be for the parents to take their children to an eye care practitioner as per advice for refraction, and eyewear/eye exercises or ophthalmic medical treatment if needed. However, there's hardly any follow-up!

The solution lies in not just doing vision screenings but also provide comprehensive eye care to these poor students at discounted rates.

And should there be someone who cares for eye care of the poor, then please contact the charitable trust Eye Care India at kumars@vsnl.com

Dr. Narendra Kumar