Page 88 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition July-August 2024

EXTENDING

EYE SCREENING

FACILITIES

VIA APPS AND

INFRASTRUCTURE

BY RAMACHANDRAN PARTHASARATHY

hile residents of cities and larger towns
in India have access to eye tests that
Ware undertaken by optometrists and
ophthalmologists, there is still a gap in addressing
uncorrected refractive error in the smaller towns,
villages and rural regions. Eye hospitals and large
institutions – both private sector and not-for-profit
organisations – have been playing a significant role
over the decades in addressing the needs of many
of these regions and underserved communities
through outreach eye camps. However, a lot more
needs to be done.

To this end, two important points may be
considered: Modern technology; and utilising existing
government infrastructure to put it to use. These can
contribute to, and strengthen the work of, the above-
mentioned institutions to extend their reach.

In this connection, the World Health
Organization’s Eyes app is available on mobile
platforms. WHOeyes is a free mobile application. The
app uses automated distance calculation technology.
This technology allows the phone to measure the
correct distance between the screen and the person
being evaluated for distance vision and near vision.

84 | THE INDIAN OPTICIAN | JULY-AUGUST 2024 OPINION