Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital collaborates with National Eye Institute

To bring the power of sight to blind children in India and advance scientific understanding of brain plasticity Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH) and the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services, inaugurated a dedicated centre for their ongoing initiative, Project Prakash. A successful collaboration between India and the US since 2005, Project Prakash aims at bringing light into the lives of curably blind children while simultaneously engaging in fundamental scientific research that explains how the brain develops and learns to see. The Project Prakash Centre was inaugurated by Loyce Pace, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs (OGA), US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in the presence of Dr Michael Chiang, Director, National Eye Institute (NEI). Project Prakash is an initiative wherein children and adolescents between the ages of eight and 22 years are treated for bilateral congenital cataracts. Through cataract removal surgeries and interocular lens implantations, their qualitative or functional vision improves tremendously and the quantitative vision is restored 40 to 60 per cent. Over the last 18 years, through Project Prakash, 62,000 children have been screened, 800+ children have been provided surgery and 30 children have been provided education and vocational rehabilitation. Dr Chiang said, “Project Prakash has had a significant socio-economic impact on the lives of patients and their families. Successfully treating a child who would have otherwise spent his/her life visually impaired opens up a realm of opportunities. In fact, via this project, we have seen that after surgery - 49 per cent of the children improved from blindness to low vision and 25 per cent further improved to the no impairment category with low vision devices. However, a lot of children hailing from vulnerable and marginalised sections of society are not screened or diagnosed in time. We are proud that NEI supports cutting-edge research work in partnership with Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital. Project Prakash provides funding for the surgeries and also ensures transportation to the hospital, compensation for the lost wages to parents who have missed work while taking care of their child and access to quality surgical care.” Dr Suma Ganesh, Chairperson, Paediatric Centre of Excellence and Director - Paediatric Ophthalmology, SCEH, and the Indian Principal Investigator, Project Prakash said, “Through Project Prakash, we are giving children the ability to lead a relatively normal life. Those who were earlier dependent on others and were studying in blind schools or refusing to socialise are now venturing out – their functional vision resorted to some extent – opening themselves up to avenues of education, social interaction, and livelihood. Looking at the success rates, surgeons are now more willing to treat older children. Providing children with this opportunity while also delving into why these eye ailments occur in the first place is the essence of Project Prakash.” Loyce Pace, Assistant Secretary, Global Affairs (OGA), US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), said, “Project Prakash conducts high-impact research, encompassing both clinical and basic science studies as well as provides a direct service for visually impaired children. I congratulate Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital and NEI for their partnership and their commendable efforts in India.”