1. Pediatric Optical Service State of the Art vision check is carried out for children at the well equipped ‘Pediatric optical service’ wing. A good collection of colorful, attractive and quality spectacle frames and glasses (Essilor) designed specifically for children are available.
   
2. Orthoptics Evaluation
3. Low Vision Aids
4. Genetic Counseling

1. Comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation of children
2. Adult strabismus service
3. Amblyopia clinic
4. Adult amblyopia clinic
5. Low vision clinic
6. Orthoptic clinic
7. Botox clinic
8. Myopia research clinic

Fellowship Details

Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship (Duration – 18 Months)

The Pediatric Ophthalmology fellowship was started in Year 1993.

Goal:
The goal of the fellowship program is to provide wide and extensive exposure to real time clinical care coupled with research activity and academic stimulation to train the next generation of leaders in this field.

Prerequisite:
The applicant must have completed Post Graduation (DNB/MS/MD) in ophthalmology from a recognized university and must be registered with the Medical Council of India. Candidates employed elsewhere should produce a ‘NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE’ (NOC) from the employer and produce it along with the relevant original certificates, at the time of the interview. Candidates possessing a ‘Diploma’ in Ophthalmology are not eligible to undergo Fellowship.

Duration: 18 Months
Number of vacancies each year: 2 every 6 months at Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai and one every 6 months at Sankara Nethralaya, Kolkata
Starting Date: 1st April &1st October
Application submission deadline: 31st January & 31st July
Selection Process: The selection process involves a Multiple Choice Objective theory examination followed by a personal interview. Selection process is scheduled in the month of February and August ever year.

The fellows are expected to have clinical, analytical and surgical skills in pediatric patient care. The fellow is supervised in the clinical and surgical evaluation of patients and participates in surgery. The fellow is trained in evaluation processes like history taking, clinical examination, Orthoptics evaluation of both children and adults with strabismus. He/she is also expected to gain experience in various pediatric ophthalmology outpatient procedures etc.

The fellows will have opportunity to assist and perform various surgical procedures like Pediatric Cataract and Strabismus and given exposure to treating Ptosis, retinopathy of prematurity(ROP) and probing.

Sankara Nethralaya has been delivering high quality pediatric eye care services since 1980. Towards achieving this goal Sankara Nethralaya and ORBIS International the renowned non-profit and NGO dedicated to saving sight worldwide by engaging in prevention of blindness in developing countries through hands on training, public health education, advocacy and local partnerships started the SN – ORBIS Pediatric Ophthalmology Learning and Training Centre on 1st August 2003. The project was inaugurated by the Honorable Minister of Health of the Government of Tamil Nadu in the August presence of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the President of India

The basic goal of this project is to build capacity to reduce avoidable childhood blindness in India. The main objectives of this project are to improve knowledge and skills of 72 pediatric ophthalmic and paramedical personnel and enhance the quality of pediatric eye care provided in at least 3 tertiary eye hospitals, by the end of three years.

Outcome of ORBIS project

Creation of a child friendly clinic

The Pediatric ophthalmology department was upgraded into an International Training Center. An overall child friendly atmosphere was brought about by creating a children’s play area with cushioned floors where children would not hurt themselves if they had a fall and covering walls with favourite cartoon characters and teasers to make children feel free and comfortable. Several new children screening/treatment centric equipment were added to upgrade the department to international standards

Candidates Trained

By the end of the project 19 - Pediatric ophthalmologists (12 Months each), 19 - Pediatric Anesthetists (1 Month), 36 – Optometrists / Orthoptists (6 Months) 33 – Pediatric Nurses (3 Months) and 8 observers (1Month) were trained.

ORBIS ‘Refractive Errors Among Children’ (REACH) PROJECT: Is a joint initiative of Orbis international and Qatar Development Fund which seeks to reduce visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive errors among children in the school going age in 15 districts across the nation. The Orbis Reach initiative targeting school children in Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu was launched in September 2017with Sankara Nethralaya as the local partner. The aim of this project is to screen 300,000 children enrolled in government schools for refractive errors, which is the most common cause of visual impairment in children. Children screened under this project would be provided free spectacles. In addition they will also be referred to Sankara Nethralaya’s base hospital for cost free treatment if they are diagnosed for complex eye problems requiring surgical intervention or special services like low vision care service. Orbis Reach project also has a research arm within its ambit.

1. Surgical Management of small angle strabismus , V.Akila Ramkumar, Ketaki S Subedar, Sci J Med & Vis ResFoun, Vol XXXIII,no3,oct2015:135-8
   
   
2. Nishanth S, Ramasubramanian S. New and complex strabismus surgeries: exciting times! Sci J Med & Vis Res Foun 2015;XXXIII:116–121
   
   
3. T S Surendran, Srikanth.R. Guest editorial- Amblyopia: Never ceases to amaze. Jour nal of Tamilnadu Ophthalmic Association. Vol 52(4); Nov 2014:466-469
   
   
4. Jayalakshmi L, Kalpa N, Srikanth R. Cycloplegic Refraction in Children, Sci J Med & Vis ResFoun 2014; XXXII: 30–32.
   
   
5. En coup de sabre – An eye opener , Dr V. Akila Ramkumar, Dr Bipasha Mukherjee , Journal of TNOA Aug 2013 , Vol 53: issue 3, 59-61
   
   
6. An Interesting case of Blepharoptosis, Dr V. Akila Ramkumar , Dr Bipasha Mukherjee , Insight ;2012: Vol XXX, Issue 3, 40-43
   
   
7. R. Srikanth, S. Meenakshi. Leber Congenital Amaurosis: An Overview. DOS Times
   
   
8. R. Srikanth, S. Meenakshi. . Muscle Puzzle. Sci J Med & Vis ResFoun 2011. vol XX!X. No.2 :26,28
   
   
9. Mangalgi HG, Meenakshi S. Common Ophthalmic problems in Children. IJPP. 2010. 12(4):378-381
   
   
10. Bhujbal Pritam, Meenakshi S. History of strabismus surgery. Journal of TNOA.2008. 46 (1): 57-6
    
    
11. Agarkar Sumita , Sowmya Nambiar Intermittent exotropia Journal of TNOA

Dr T.S.Surendran has served as the President of Strabismological society of India. He has received several prestigious awards including the Lt. Col. Rangachari Award for the paper titled 'Pediatric Portable Keratometer’, presented at the All India Ophthalmic Society at Ahmedabad in 1990, “ Best Doctor “ award for the year of 2011 awarded by Government of Tamil Nadu on 25th Nov 2011, “Excellence award” from the Strabismological society of India on 2nd Dec 2012 and Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Conference of the SPOSI ( Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Society of India on 14th December, 2014 at Pushkar, Rajasthan. Recently in 2017 he was the recipient of MAYAN award by Vista India for service towards socially and economically underprivileged community, and Dr. Jhamwar Medal Award at Goa.

Dr Meenakshi Swaminathan, Senior Consultant and Academic Director was chosen to train pediatric ophthalmologists,facilitate the adaptation of ICO’s curriculum in China under ‘Children’s healthy eyes bring educational reward’ (CHEER) project, a joint initiative between ICO and ORBIS, China chapter on August 2014. Her other awards include Dr S.S. Badrinath Medal of Honour 2013, Capt. Subramaniam best video film award at TNOA-2006.

A presentation by Dr Akila Ramkumar, titled ‘Amblyogenic risk factors in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction’ was adjudged as the ‘Best Paper’ and a presentation titled ‘Axenfeld – Rigger’s anomaly-A rare association with Nanophthalmolos’ was adjudged as ‘Best Case presentation’ at the Fusion 2012 held at the Hyderabad International Convention Center.