Aligarh: The Institute of Ophthalmology in JN Medical College at Aligarh Muslim University organized a Glaucoma India Education Programme in collaboration with the Aligarh Ophthalmological Society and Glaucoma Society of India.

In her inaugural address, the chief guest, AMU Vice Chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon emphasized the importance and role of public health management in maintaining a healthy society.

She urged the ophthalmologists to increase the frequency of medical awareness programmes, with special emphasis on eye-related issues, as it has become important to educate people on how to take care of their eyes in an era when the use of electronic gadgets, including mobile phones, has become inevitable for people of all age groups.

Delivering a keynote address, Dr Chandrima Paulm, former Secretary of GSI and a winner of several national awards, who had been trained in the US and UK, talked on 'Intraocular pressure measurement’ and ‘Philosophy of Glaucoma management'.

Dr Shweta Tripathi, GSI Central Zone, a Senior Consultant, Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre of Lucknow talked about 'History taking in Glaucoma' and 'Interpretation of OCT', while Prof Shalini Mohan, Head, Department of Ophthalmology at GSVM Medical College of Kanpur talked about 'Gonioscopy made easy' and 'Interpretation of fields'. They discussed basic clinical skills with advanced diagnostic test information.

Prof Simi Zaka-ur-Rab, Incharge of Retina Services at AMUIO presented a talk on the 'Management of Neovascular Glaucoma' and Dr S Wajahat Ali Rizvi discussed the 'IOP changes in Orbital diseases'.

The Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Principal and CMS, JN Medical College, Prof Veena Maheshwari urged the participating trainees to focus on getting acquainted with the recent developments in Glaucoma management.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, Prof AK Amitava, Director, AMU Institute of Ophthalmology introduced the audience to the philosophy and purpose of GIEP. He said Glaucoma is among the top 5 causes of blindness in India and the world. It is a painless and progressive disease causing irreversible blindness.

He said that the lack of awareness and knowledge gap among trainees and general ophthalmologists is a matter of concern and thus the GIEP is designed to impart basic knowledge of Glaucoma diagnosis and management to trainee residents and general ophthalmologists so that they can handle such situations in a result-oriented manner.

Prof Ziya Siddiqui extended the vote of thanks.