Page 85 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition November-December 2021

FILM ON MYOPIA: HOW TO
NITIN GADKARI, THE MINISTER OF ROAD
TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS AT THE FILM LAUNCH
and the corrective and preventive measures.
Renowned optometrists Dr Anitha Arvind,
Dr Rashima Asokan and Dr Prema Chande
conducted the lectures over three days
for the employees of Indigo Airlines: pilots,
cabin crew, ground and support staff, and
administrative and human resource staff. The
lectures were designed for each of the specific
professions. The speakers were also able to
create awareness about the profession of
optometry.
Eye screening of 135 Bruhat Bengaluru
Mahanagara Palike workers by OCI in
collaboration with Essilor Vision Foundation
(EVF) conducted by optometrists from the
Sankara College of Optometry showed 53
adults needed prescription glasses and
38 were referred to the base hospital. EVF
provided the prescription glasses free of cost.
EVF in collaboration with OCI and the
Nayonika Eyecare Charitable Trust (NECT)
organised an awareness event that was
aired on the Kannada news channel News
18 on 14 October. Lakshmi Shinde from OCI,
Mahesh Kumar from EVF and Dr Sulekha
from the NECT took part in the panel
discussion on “Eye care and awareness about
the effects of gadgets on the eyes” on the
Hello Doctor TV program. The focus was on
myopia and children’s eye health and various
eye conditions. They also provided useful
information and tips on eye care and lifestyle
changing measures such as playing outdoors
and reducing gadget time.
*****
PREVENT IT
In 2020, a Myopia task force formed by
the OCI had submitted recommendations
to the then Union Ministry of Human
Resource Development [(now Ministry of
Education (MOE)]. As an extension to the
Myopia white paper, OCI with support from
HOYA Lens Pvt Ltd, created a film with
members of the Myopia task force.
The film aims at increasing awareness
among the general public and points to
lifestyle changes that make a difference
to children’s eye health. These include
outdoor activities, reducing time spent on
gadget screens and regular eye check-ups.
The film was launched by Nitin Gadkari,
the Minister of Road Transport and
Highways. Mr Gadkari also posted the
film on social media handles YouTube,
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The
film is also available on the OCI YouTube
channel in English and Hindi.
The Myopia white paper
recommendations : A compulsory
60-minute break outdoors in all schools
across India to increase exposure to
sunlight; in cases of online education,
15-minute breaks between sessions;
reducing assignments and near work for
preschool children and making learning
needs more activity-based; increasing the
awareness about myopia among parents
and teachers; and regular eye screening
for school children.
Also present at the launch were Dr
Gullapalli N Rao, founder of LV Prasad
Eye Institute; Dr Thulsiraj Ravilla, director
operations, Arvind Eye Care Systems; Dr TS
Surendran, vice-chair, Sankara Nethralaya;
the Myopia task force; OCI board
members; Ramachandran, advisor to India
Vision Institute; and Sanjay Tiwari, chief
commercial officer, HOYA Lens India.
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