Ophthalmology

The Department of Ophthalmology has the mission to combat eye disease and to reduce the prevalence of blindness through a scientific approach by providing equitable, excellent and efficient eye care to the people and training to medical students, residents and specialists. The Department provides eye care to the community through its 6 pronged approach: namely the modern outpatient department, hospital inpatient, eye bank, community outreach services, medical education and ongoing research.

SERVICE

The department has a modern OPD which has all the equipment for comprehensive eye care and is at par with the best in India. Glaucoma, cornea, cataract, squint and retina clinics with all the modern diagnostic and treatment facilities are conducted. Fundus imaging camera, field analyzer, diode laser and YAG Laser are used for managing glaucoma, after cataract and posterior segment diseases. LASIK is being done routinely for patients who want freedom from glasses. There are only 5 LASIK machines in the government setup in India of a total of 200 installations country-wide. The LASIK centre at MGIMS has brought down the cost of this expensive procedure making it within the reach of the common man.

The Inpatient caters to the ophthalmic surgical patients and those with sight threatening disorders. The Operation Theatre is equipped with state of art microsurgical microscopes with CCTV facility, phacoemulsification, vitrectomy and cryopexy units. Routine and complex surgical procedures are performed daily. A high end phaco machine has been acquired and is in use in the modern new Eye OT. The Sushila Nayar Eye bank helps to procure, store and process corneas to cure the corneal blind.

The community outreach programme also known as the Cataract Blindness Control Wardha District (CBCWD) has developed as a model in eye care. After screening of all villages for cataract, patients are brought to base hospital for modern sutureless cataract surgery which is totally free of cost. Free transport, food, hospital stay, glasses and medicines are given to patients.

EDUCATION

The Department trains undergraduates, residents, nurses and eye specialists at all levels of specialization in general ophthalmology and eye care. Routine teaching is enhanced by interactive lecture techniques, use of audiovisual aids and screening of videos. Evening clinics are held for microteaching for postgraduates and learning for undergraduates. E-learning and self directed learning are encouraged for both undergraduates and postgraduates. Hands on surgical training is imparted to trainees for SICS + IOL in collaboration with Govt. of India. A curriculum innovation project in association with FAIMER, Philadelphia, USA was conducted on “Improving clinical skills in ophthalmology for undergraduates at MGIMS Sevagram”. A question bank of postgraduate level OSCEs and undergraduate MCQs has been developed.

Wet lab has been set up in the Eye bank for microsurgical skills training. As an initiative for postgraduate training, OSCAR (Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric) has been introduced for assessment and enhancing surgical skills. Postgraduates are encouraged to use e-learning resources. They are conversant with the needs and special problems of working in community ophthalmology in the rural outreaches and give the best patient care with the minimum infrastructure. There is an excellent departmental Library with over 200 books, Journals and CD for used of the postgraduate students. Routine academic teaching of the undergraduates and postgraduates is conducted as per the norms of the MUHS and MCI. In addition the postgraduates are given thesis topics of social relevance. Results are presented at National and Vidarbha level meets.

RESEARCH

Ongoing research projects focus on both community ophthalmology and recent advances in the field of ophthalmology. Interdisciplinary research is encouraged with research projects done in association with the department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Community Medicine and Physiology. Currently there is collaborative research going on in the field of Visual Evoked Potential in glaucoma and optic nerve disorders.