Page 64 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition September-October 2021
P. 64
IVI CONFERENCE
CALLS FOR ADDRESSING
MOUNTING MYOPIA
‘ ye Health in a Changing World’ was children. These call for urgent attention.”
the timely theme of the second India
EVision Institute (IVI) International In line with this, at the event’s conclusion
Optometry Conference, held virtually from 9 to there was a unanimous call for concerted
11 September 2021. The event, which follows last action to tackle the world’s eye health
year’s conference held in October 2020 on the problems, especially uncorrected refractive
same theme, is already becoming a major one in error and myopia.
the annual eye health calendar across the world. Leading speakers at the opening session
Global and national experts came together included Dr GN Rao; RN Mohanty, president,
on the virtual platform to focus on addressing Vision 2020 and CEO, SightSavers India; Peter
eye health and vision impairment on an urgent Holland, CEO, International Agency for the
basis. About 1,300 participants from India and Prevention of Blindness (IAPB); Peter Hendicott,
36 other countries had registered to listen to president-elect, World Council of Optometry
the talks and discussions on the issues and (WCO); and Vinod Daniel, CEO of IVI.
challenges. Keynote speakers included Prof Matthew
The focus areas were on ‘Myopia Burton, director, International Centre for Eye
management’, ‘Artificial intelligence in eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical
care’, ‘Legislative frameworks’, ‘Human resource Medicine; Dr Anthony Vipin Das, consultant
challenges’, and ‘Partnerships’. These topics ophthalmologist, LV Prasad Eye Institute,
were addressed by keynote and other speakers, Hyderabad; Amanda Davis, director for strategic
oral and poster presentations, and parallel initiatives, The Fred Hollows Foundation;
sessions in 40 hours of live interactive meetings. Prof Kovin Naidoo, senior vice president -
Other sessions included ‘School children social impact: Africa & Latam and Advocacy,
eye health program – Impact of the Covid-19 Essilor International; Prof Ian Bailey, professor
pandemic – the way forward’, ‘NGOs make a emeritus of Vision Science and Optometry,
difference’, and ‘Partnering for eye health’. In Berkeley School of Optometry; Mitasha Yu, co-
addition, there was a pre-conference workshop chair, International Agency for the Prevention
session on the first day. of Blindness; Dr Kate Gifford, co-founder and
lead educator, Myopia Profile Pty Ltd; Bayani
Vinod Daniel, CEO, IVI, emphasised that F Abesamis, barrister and solicitor, Abesamis
“myopia is becoming a growing public health Law Office; OB Malope, brand growth specialist;
problem. Research has predicted that the rise in and Dr Babar Qureshi, director - Inclusive Eye
myopia worldwide will continue in the coming Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases, CBM.
decades. In India, experts see the problem
mounting among rural and urban school-going Akash Goyle, Luxottica India’s country
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