Focused vision science research can benefit primary eye care, according to experts

India Vision Institute is an Indian not-for-profit nongovernmental organization whose activities cover 20 states of the country.

The two-day ‘Indian Vision Science Symposium’ saw 22 leading scientists from India and across the world speak on areas such as Optics of the eye, Visual processing in the retina, Early visual pathways in the brain, Sensory processing of visual information, Higher level vision - Attention and Cognition, Oculomotor behaviour, and Applied vision science.

It showcased the interdisciplinary nature of vision science and demonstrated that the future of vision science research to improve the quality of eye health care of 10 crore Indians and to address emerging threats such as Myopia is bright.

IVI's CEO Vinod Daniel said, "It is the first-ever primary eye care related symposium with a focus on the Optometry sector and will better place India on all aspects of Primary Eye Health Care in the coming years.”

He said, "In April this year, an IVI-initiated symposium, Resmeet 2021, identified the need, and made the call, to galvanize Indian Vision Science Research to better deliver eye health services." 

“Additionally, IVI has also constituted a Vision Science Research Taskforce with eminent Indian vision science researchers and educators as members to find solutions and recommend ways to overcome the barriers to the advancement of vision science research in India,” he said.

The symposium, held on July 24 and 25, launched with opening remarks by Dr GN Rao, Founder-Chair, LVPEI, Yvonne Holden, wife of pioneer vision science luminary scientist late Professor Brien Holden, and IVI's CEO Vinod Daniel.

Key speakers and moderators included Dr Aishwaryah Radhakrishnan, Dr Allison McKendrick, Dr Amithavikram Hathibelagal, Dr Ann Elsner, Dr Apurva Ratan Murty, Dr Arijit Chakraborty, Dr Carla Abbott, Deepmala Mazumdar, Dr Jay Neitz, Dr Jaikishan Jayakumar, Dr Jeremy Wolfe, Dr Michael Webster, Neeraj Singh, Dr Pavan Verkicharla, Dr Premnandhini Satgunam, Dr Rajkumar Raveendran, Dr Revathy Mani, Dr Richa Verma, Dr Shonraj Ballae Ganeshrao, Dr Shrikant Bharadwaj, Dr S P Arun, Dr Trichur Vidyasagar, and Dr Yamni Mohan.

Said Vinod Daniel,"We acknowledge the role played by LVPEI’s Dr Shrikant Bharadwaj in developing the symposium in association with IVI and several top institutions of learning in India. The Symposium included some 25 sessions with over 25 speakers from India and abroad.  This could not have been possible without the support of Carl Zeiss India."

"Since our inception in 2012,” Vinod Daniel said, “IVI has helped promote vision science research through grants, support for PhDs and research methodology workshops."