Sightsavers India, AbbVie Therapeutics India host meet on glaucoma

The importance of regular eye exams was discussed as a proactive measure, alongside the role of media in spreading awareness, empowering individuals to prioritise eye health

Sightsavers India and AbbVie India, in their ongoing collaborative campaign, recently hosted the fourth state-level consultation on the ‘Prevention of Visual Impairment Caused by Glaucoma’ at the NIMHANS Convention Centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The event was honoured by the presence of our Guests of Honour, Vikas Kishor Suralkar, IAS, Special Commissioner BBMP and Dr Shamsundar, Joint Director Ophthalmology, Government of Karnataka.

The consultation began with a heartfelt welcome by Edwin Charles, Corporate Partnerships Executive, Sightsavers India. This was followed by opening remarks from RN Mohanty, Chief Executive Officer, Sightsavers India and Dr Rahul Rathod, Medical Director, AbbVie India.

Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, shared, “We greatly appreciate the dedication of Sightsavers India and AbbVie India in addressing preventable blindness and hosting this consultation as an invaluable effort to raise awareness. Through collaborations focused on eye care, we aim to build a healthier, more productive community for all.”

Suralkar mentioned, “We must continue to strengthen these efforts and work collectively to ensure every individual has access to early detection, treatment, and the necessary resources to safeguard their vision. The BBMP stands firm in its commitment to supporting initiatives that improve eye health, and we will continue to prioritise eye care as a critical component of our public health agenda.”

Dr Shamsundar said, “The combined efforts of the Government of Karnataka, private sector leaders like AbbVie India, and organisations like Sightsavers India demonstrate the power of partnerships in driving impactful change. Together, we remain steadfast in our commitment to adopting initiatives that enhance awareness, promote early diagnosis, and provide equitable access to eye care for all.”

Dr Rathod stated, “Partnering with Sightsavers India in this initiative is a significant step toward making quality eye care accessible to all, especially those in marginalised communities. This collaboration reflects our commitment to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to protect their vision and receive the essential eye health services they need.”

Mohanty said, “The recent consultation in Bangalore, Karnataka brought together some of the brightest minds in ophthalmology, public health, and government representatives, demonstrating our collective commitment to innovative strategies and early diagnosis for preventing avoidable blindness. We look forward to expanding this initiative into other states in the coming months, taking crucial steps to protect sight and empower communities across India.”

The event continued with a panel discussion featuring specialists who explored different strategies for managing glaucoma.

Dr Suneeta Dubey, Medical Director and Director of Glaucoma Services, Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, and Keynote Speaker said, “Today’s consultation is an example of collaboration in action, bringing together medical expertise, and public health leaders to drive a unified response against glaucoma.”

The panel members also included General Ophthalmologist: Dr Kaushik Murali, President of Medical Administration Quality & Education at Sankara Eye Foundation India; Glaucoma Specialist: Dr Asha MS, Nethradhama; Public Health Expert: Dr Priya T Nandimath, Principal Professor at Padmashree School of Public Health, Bangalore and Garimella Subramaniam, professional journalist and Director of Strategic Initiatives at AgnoShin Technologies, Chennai.

The panel discussion highlighted the crucial role of collaboration in preventing glaucoma-related visual impairment, emphasising that a united approach among experts, healthcare providers, policymakers, and media is key to safeguarding vision. The panel members highlighted the often-overlooked risks of glaucoma, stressing that timely diagnosis and intervention can preserve sight and improve quality of life. The importance of regular eye exams was discussed as a proactive measure, alongside the role of media in spreading awareness, empowering individuals to prioritise eye health, and building public support for policies aimed at reducing preventable blindness.

Jatin Tiwari, Director, Corporate Partnerships and Southwest Programme, Sightsavers India, shared the way forward and said “The perspectives shared today will be instrumental in refining our initiatives for increasing awareness, promoting early diagnosis, and improving treatment for this silent threat. Moving forward, we are committed to actionable outcomes and advancing stronger collaborations with healthcare experts, policymakers, and community stakeholders”

Sayanti Bit, Corporate Partnerships, Sightsavers India gave the vote of thanks.