The Optical News : Editorial

Editorial: Vol 18 No 3

2008-12-24T05:14:00.000-08:00

Editorial: World Sight Day

VISION 2020 : The right to sight is a global joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), with an international coalition of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), professional associations, eye care institutions and corporations.

Launched in 1999, it aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. VISION 2020 programmes have been adopted in more than 40 countries, and India is one of the associate, as well as, beneficiary of this movement.

It is perhaps difficult to imagine that an estimated 180 milion people world wide are usually disabled. Of those, around 45 million persons are blind. Ninety percent of the world's blind people live in developing countries;there are more than 10 million (One crore)blind people in India, six millionin China and seven million Africa. People who live in people in highly indrustralized countries.The causes of avoidable blindness are frequently associted with poverty and lack of access to quality eye care services. It is estimated that over seven million people become blind every year.

The annual World Sight Day provides an opportunity to become more aware and more committed to ensuring the right to sight for all. Held on the second Thursday to October every year, World Sight Dayaims to raise awareness that 80 percent of blindness could be prevented or cured. Some of the interventions include : cataract surhgry, prevention of trachoma ; immunization against measles; provision of vitamin A supplementsfor the prevention of childhood blindness; and provision of eyeglasses.

The Institute of Optical Advancement realizes the significance of his event and has been playing a proactive role by organising Eye check up Camps, involving prominent Eye Hospitals, Opthalmologist, Optometrist and Opticians for past three years. In the veryfirst camp 272 patients registerd, while 668patients registered in the subsequent year 2007. This year the number of patients is expected to be still higher. One of the prominent feature of these camps is the vision screening of the school children and that of public vehicle drivers. The Institute appeals and invites its readers to join hands in this global mission, by organising a free vision check up , on this day every year.

Editorial - Vol 18 No 2

2008-05-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Editorial - The Refracting Optician
The Opticians Association of America (OAA) is currently providing a refraction course. In an interesting note it states that Historically, Opticians were the founding fathers of the field of optics. Late in the 19th century, the optical profession split into those who wished to specialize in refraction, the Refracting Opticians, and those who wished to specialize in the filling of the prescriptions and fabrication of eyewear, the Prescription Opticians. Later on, the word "optometry" or Optometrist was proposed by Refracting Optician Eberhart in 1882 to clarify the difference between the two opticians. The Refracting Opticians then changed their name to Optometrists, while the Prescription Opticians changed theirs to Dispensing Opticians. Yet in reality, the optometrists have never given up their right to dispense and fabricate eyewear, whereas, the Dispensing Opticians have never given up their right to practice refraction, if suitably educated.
With all the statistical data available, and the surveys made by various groups or agencies, there is, unfortunately, a tremendous shortage of all eye care professionals not only in India, but globally, which includes Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Opticians. Most countries either have very poor or no infrastructure for such training. In such circumstances, ophthalmologists perform the tasks that do not require their level of training, while Optometrist perform the job of a Dispensing Optician.
Presenting the 'Asian of the Year 2007' Award at New Delhi, the Hon’ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said that for any country to find its due place in the comity of civilized nations, the three most important indicators on the human development scale are: eradication of poverty, health-care and education. He further emphasized the fact that India has only 12000 eye surgeons in India for a population of more than 1 billion, i.e. 1 eye surgeon for about 1 lakh population.”

The situation in respect of qualified Optometrists is worse still, and there is no data available on qualified Dispensing or Refracting Opticians. While much emphasis has been placed on the training of Optometrists, there is hardly any college or Institute for training of Opticians. Of an estimated 40000 Opticians, hardly 15% possess the necessary skill, while the remaining are doing the job of dispensing and refraction without any basic qualification or training.
Institute of Optical Advancement has taken the initiative of providing both theoretical and practical training to this large community of practicing Opticians, by offering short term training programmes, but it also realizes the need of a full fledged two year diploma for Refracting Opticians.

Editorial - Vol 18 No 1

2008-03-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

Editorial: Survival of the Fittest

The Retail Opticians in this country have enjoyed the unprofessional freedom in the absence of any regulatory measure, including a license to practice. The post independence era has witnessed a mushroom growth of otherwise this noble profession.

It is indeed a paradox that in this paramedical service, an Optician is the weakest link. An Ophthalmologist has to undergo eight years of rigorous education / training, while an Optometrist has to undergo two to four years of education & training, before qualifying to practice their profession. But for an Optician, there is neither any requirement of basic minimum qualification nor any Institute to offer comprehensive training. The result is evident and obvious. A prescription from an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist is dispensed by a person ( Optician ), who neither understands the medical or technical implications. To him a spectacle is simply a combination of a Frame and Lenses.

With the adoption of GATT ( General Agreement on Trade & Tariffs ) and permission to FDI ( Foreign Direct Investment ), in the retail sector by the Government of India, the scenario in this segment has started witnessing the changes. National and Multinational Companies from the organized sector, having realized the weaknesses of this otherwise potential sector, have come up with the proposal to establish a chain of retail stores across the length and breadth of country. Zeiss is one example, which has already opened 130 shops, and has a plan to open another 200. Tatas have already opened 7 retail show room under the name & style of “Titan Eye”. Reliance Optical wing is already functional with 5 shops and will soon be visible with the chain of Optical Retail shops. All these shops are equipped with an Optometrist and trained Technicians, besides offering a large variety of Frames and Lenses.

The threat to small conventional Opticians is, therefore, imminent, unless they take strong measures to face the challenge. The first and foremost requirement in this sequence is the knowledge base. Here again there may be problem. A person, who has been successfully running the show for 10, 20 or more years, finds it hard to accept the reality. But he must also realize that time and tide wait for none. The survival of the fittest would ultimate be the key to success.

The Institute of Optical Advancement has been offering opportunity for professional training in various disciplines relating to Optical field for over twenty years, and is further willing to join hands with like minded Individuals, Institutions or Associations to raise the level of Opticianary, in this country or any part of world, for that matter.
- Ravindra Nath Bhargava