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Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Dr Sucheta Kulkarni conferred with prestigious award
PUNE: Dr Sucheta Kulkarni, Medical Director of PBMA's H V Desai Eye Hospital, was conferred with the prestigious award 'Woman Lead for Eye Care' at the 'Vision 2020' National Conference held in Ahmedabad. This honor was in recognition for her long-term and significant achievements in the field of eye care and eye education. The award was presented by Vinay Nehra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India. Dr. Dharmendra Kumar Jena, Deputy Director, Blind People's Association, Dr. Bhushan Punani, Joint Secretary, Blind People's Association , Dr. Rajesh Saini, President Vision 2020 Conference President and other dignitaries were present. Vision 2020: The Right to Sight India is a national conference organized by the Blind People's Association, an organization that has been working since 1954. This was the 19th edition of the conference and ophthalmologists from all over India participated in various scientific sessions related to ophthalmology. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
National consultation on Retinopathy of Prematurity: Leaders unite to combat childhood blindness
PUNE: In a significant step towards eliminating preventable childhood blindness in India, a National Consultation on Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) was held on 27th June 2025 at PBMA's H. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune. The consultation witnessed active participation from members of the Indian ROP Society, the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), government officials, CSR leaders, non-profit organizations, and prominent figures including Prof. Dr. Rajvardhan Azad, President of the Indian ROP Society. The event was co-hosted under the aegis of Sight4All by Cognizant Foundation, Mission for Vision, and PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital, bringing together a distinguished panel of experts and stakeholders from across the country. The consultation served as a catalyst for several critical national-level outcomes aimed at strengthening ROP prevention and care in India: Consensus on revised national ROP guidelines integrated into child health policies. Strengthened multisectoral collaboration between neonatal units, eye care providers, and public health institutions. Proposal to reinforce the National ROP Task Force with broader stakeholder representation. Endorsement of a public awareness campaign to inform parents and caregivers. Mobilisation of CSR and private sector support for infrastructure and telemedicine. Formation of a Technical Working Group to drive policy and advocacy based on recommendations. ROP is a rapidly growing public health challenge in India, emerging as one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness in children. Affecting preterm infants, particularly those born before 34 weeks of gestation or weighing under 2,000 grams, ROP is preventable and treatable yet continues to cause irreversible vision loss due to gaps in timely detection and intervention. With nearly 3.5 million preterm births each year, India faces a critical public health challenge that demands a coordinated and strategic, national response. The National Consultation was convened to catalyse collective action through strengthened collaboration, policy alignment, and enhanced public and institutional awareness. 'Cognizant Foundation is committed to driving change where it matters the most. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Under our flagship Sight4All programme, we have been working to strengthen early detection and treatment systems for vulnerable newborns at risk of vision loss. The national consultation on ROP is a critical platform that brings together experts, policymakers, and partners to align efforts, share insights, and shape a coordinated national response. We are proud to spearhead this movement to safeguard the vision of India's future generation.' said Mr. Deepak Prabhu Matti, Chief Executive Officer, Cognizant Foundation. Since 2020, the collaborative efforts of Cognizant Foundation, Mission for Vision, and HV Desai Eye Hospital have been instrumental in transforming lives through early Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening and treatment. This partnership has successfully enabled early ROP screening for over 3,200 neonates and provided over 500 treatments at no cost to babies from economically weaker sections in various districts of Maharashtra, including Pune, Satara, Jalgaon, and Buldhana. 'Our mission is to enable quality eye health for all, especially for the most vulnerable. Preventing blindness due to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a critical step toward that goal, as it ensures that children born too soon are not denied a lifetime of sight. This national consultation is a milestone in bringing together key stakeholders from across sectors including healthcare providers, policymakers, civil society and development partners to strengthen the linkages between neonatal care and eye health systems. Together, we are taking meaningful strides to protect and preserve the sight of our nation's newborns,' said Sabitra Kundu, Chief Operating Officer, Mission for Vision. 'The time to act is now. With the growing survival of pre-term infants, it is essential that our health systems evolve to meet new challenges like ROP. This consultation brings us closer to a future where no child in India suffers blindness due to lack of awareness or access,' emphasized Parvez Billimoria, Executive Director, PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital By fostering expert dialogue and actionable strategies, the National Consultation aims to lay the groundwork for a coordinated, nationwide approach to eliminate avoidable childhood blindness from ROP.
Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
45-day-old baby's vision saved by doctors in Pune, Amravati
In an example of care and compassion, doctors and hospital staff from Amravati and Pune came together to save the eyesight of a 45-day-old baby girl from a remote tribal village in Temru village in Chikhaldara tehsil of Melghat. This was a more aggressive form of ROP. Usually, we have three to four days to operate, but in such cases, even a delay of one or two days can lead to blindness. The swift action by the Amravati team ensured that didn't happen, says doctor. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) Born on May 10 at the District Women's Hospital in Amravati, the baby weighed just 990 grams. She was admitted to the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) for over a month. On June 12, doctors diagnosed her with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a potentially blinding eye condition that affects premature babies. Left untreated, ROP can lead to irreversible vision loss. Realizing the urgency—ROP in such cases requires surgical intervention within two to three days—the doctors at Amravati swung into action. But multiple challenges stood in their way. The baby's parents were in deep financial distress. They spoke a tribal dialect that many couldn't understand and lacked the necessary documents to avail of government health schemes. Above all, they had no means to travel to Pune, where the required treatment was available. Despite this, Dr Preeti Ingle, head of the SNCU in Amravati, contacted Dr Sucheta Kulkarni, medical director at PBMA's HV Desai Eye Hospital in Pune. Dr Kulkarni immediately agreed to perform the surgery free of cost, but the question remained—how would the baby reach Pune, nearly 600 km away? Initially, the baby's father refused to travel, citing a complete lack of money—he couldn't even afford the journey back to his own village. Recognising the gravity of the situation, hospital staff began counselling him. Meanwhile, district official Prakash Khadke contacted senior health officers Dr Tilottama Wankhede in Melghat and Dr Aishwarya Wankhede of the Primary Health Centre in Katkumb. Together, they arranged ₹ 5,000 to fund the family's travel. On June 12, the family was supposed to catch a train at 10:45 pm, but they missed it. Undeterred, hospital and district staff arranged fresh tickets for June 13 and personally accompanied the father and child to the station to ensure they boarded safely. They reached Pune the next day, June 14, at 7 am. Waiting at the railway station was Vishnu Gaikwad, an optometrist from the retina department at HV Desai Eye Hospital. He received the duo and took them straight to the hospital. The baby underwent surgery the same day. Later that evening, Gaikwad escorted the father and child back to the station and saw them off on their return journey. The baby was readmitted to the District Women's Hospital in Amravati for follow-up care. Doctors there confirmed her condition is stable and, most importantly, her eyesight has been saved. 'This was a more aggressive form of ROP. Usually, we have three to four days to operate, but in such cases, even a delay of one or two days can lead to blindness. The swift action by the Amravati team ensured that didn't happen,' said Dr Kulkarni. She also underlined the importance of early screening in rural areas. 'We conduct regular ROP screening in Pune, Satara, and Alibaug, but such programmes need to be expanded to remote districts like Melghat,' she added. From a tribal hamlet in the Melghat hills to a high-tech eye hospital in Pune, this journey was powered by urgency, empathy, and institutional coordination. For a 45-day-old baby girl, it was not just a medical intervention—it was a second chance to see the world.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
First of its kind in Maharashtra, advanced laser system for vision correction installed at city hospital
PUNE: In a major step forward in laser eye surgery technology, an advanced bladeless laser system (VisuMax 800 Femtosecond Laser System by ZEISS) was installed at PBMA's H.V. Desai Eye Hospital. This is the first such installation in the state of Maharashtra claimed the hospital. The information was given at a press conference by senior eye surgeons Dr Mukesh Paryani, Dr Varsha Puranik, and Dr Sanket Kulkarni. Mr Parvez Billimoria, Executive Director, and Dr Rahul Deshpande, Chief Medical Director, H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, were also present on the occasion. Dr Mukesh Paryani shared that getting rid of glasses is more than a cosmetic requirement now. It has become a necessity in many professional and sports settings, where clear vision without the hindrance of eyewear can significantly enhance performance, safety, and confidence. One way to get rid of glasses and contact lenses is to undergo laser procedures called refractive surgery. One of the major procedures used for refractive surgeries is SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction), which is used to change the shape of the cornea so that the light rays are focused on the cornea and the refractive error (glasses power) is removed. This latest technology uses ultrafast femtosecond (tiny fraction of a second) laser pulses (short bursts of light generated by lasers) to create a precise lenticule (a disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue) which is then removed. This is faster and safer and is an important milestone for refractive surgeries in Maharashtra. Dr Varsha Puranik said that the highly automated and robotic machine delivers higher precision, shorter procedure time, and less discomfort, resulting in faster recovery and better safety. This next-generation femtosecond laser system creates data-driven insights to help surgeons better manage treatment. While the machine is highly automated, the surgeon plays a crucial role in planning the treatment, guiding the laser application, performing the lenticule removal, and ensuring precision and patient safety throughout the procedure. Dr Sanket Kulkarni said that the patients undergo a comprehensive eye examination for eligibility. This includes corneal tomography, refraction and visual acuity, and a complete comprehensive examination of the eye. While proper precautions are necessary as prescribed by the ophthalmologist, most patients can resume normal activities within three days, with significant visual improvement noted within a day or two. Full visual recovery may take around four weeks.
