Page 68 - The Indian Digital Edition September-October 2020

“ CORPORATE

INTERFERENCE IN

GRADUATE OPTOMETRY

EDUCATION
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE….”

In September, Chitkara University, a state private institute
located in Punjab, announced a 4-year Optometry program
with Lenskart, a leading Indian optical eyewear retail chain and
this created quite an uproar within the optical community with
many people voicing their concerns and feelings related to this
proposed partnership.

There were several allegations made on various social
media sites when the news broke out and The Indian Optician
(TIO) decided to meet Mr. Aditya Goyal, Principal of Sankara
College of Optometry, Bangalore, to get some clarity on this
crucial matter. Mr. Goyal is an illustrious personality who is an
ADITYA GOYAL
adjunct faculty at Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Salus
University, USA and also serves as President on the board of the
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). He
has been instrumental in establishing colleges of optometry
in Chennai, Bangalore and Ludhiana along with Sankara eye
care group of hospitals. These colleges are running optometry
programs at bachelors and masters levels. Presented below
are some excerpts from the interview…read on to find out the
views of this much respected gentleman...

The Indian Optician (TIO): Ever since Chitkara University
announced a 4-year Optometry program with Lenskart, many people
from the optometric community have vehemently expressed their
views against such a tie-up. TIO would like to know your thoughts on
this proposed project.

Aditya Goyal (AG): Thanks for providing this opportunity to
voice my sentiments about the episode that you have mentioned. My

| SEPT-OCT 2020 | 62 INTERVIEW