Sightsavers enriches optometry – A Primary Eye Care Profession

Sightsavers’ partner Lotus College of Optometry (A Primary Eye Care Profession) set a record of sorts in terms of the number of research papers selected for the upcoming Asia Pacific Optometric Congress (APOC) later this year. A total of 11 papers (oral as well as poster) were been selected.

Asia Pacific Optometric Congress (APOC)

Asia Pacific Council of Optometry (APCO) represents the Asia-Pacific region as one of the regional secretariats of the World Council of Optometry. The mission of APCO is to facilitate the enhancement and development of primary eye and vision care by optometrists in the Asia and the Pacific regions.

A bi-annual scientific meeting, the Asia Pacific Optometric Congress (APOC), has been held since 1978.The upcoming 18th APOC with the theme “Optometry – A Primary Eye Care Profession” will be held in November this year at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore.

Sightsavers contributes in many ways

Sightsavers has been partnering with Lotus College of Optometry for a few years to support the Masters in Optometry course. The objective of this partnership is to strengthen the course and support research studies, improve service delivery at primary level and develop teaching faculty for the B. Optometry level.

Sightsavers is happy to see its support reach new heights.

List of research papers selected for the congress

• Reading rate and contrast sensitivity in amblyopes
• Accommodative facility and vergences in table tennis players
• Reading rate in nystagmus
• Correction factor for intra-ocular pressure measurement
• To determine the impact of uncorrected presbyopia on the quality of life in the slum of Mumbai
• Effect of corneal astigmatism on Goldmann Applanation tonometry
• Intermittent exotropia and vision therapy
• Prevalence of the Hudson Sthali line of the cornea in Indian Eyes
• Central corneal endothelial cell density and central corneal thickness changes in various primary Glaucoma
• Keratoconus examination with Fourier Domain anterior segment OCT
• Effectiveness of measuring central field with Amslers grid test and Berkeley central field test

About Sightsavers

Sightsavers is a global development organisation working to eliminate avoidable blindness and to ensure that people who are irreversibly blind receive the support they need to lead lives of independence and dignity.

Sightsavers has been working in India since 1966 on eye health and has reached out to over 35 million people.

Today, we work with partner organisations across major states in India bringing eye healthcare, educational support, counselling, training and leadership development to visually impaired people in some of the least served areas of the country.

We work in a sustainable way to promote lasting change – by strengthening existing health systems, seeking to advocate with and influence governments and by demonstrating best practises. We network with like-minded organisations to enable exchange of ideas and to advocate for the rights of the disabled.

Sightsavers believes in promoting indigenous technologies in eye healthcare enabling a wider reach of health services in India.