| Target group : |
The candidates should have completed MS / DOMS with surgical experience |
| No.of Positions: |
8 Candidate per month (2 per centre) |
| Duration: |
One Month |
| Starting Date: |
First of Each Month |
| Medium of Instruction: |
English |
| Faculty Co-ordinator: |
Dr. Ramakrishnan, CMO, Aravind Eye Hospital, Tirunelveli |
| Started Year: |
1998 |
Glaucoma, asymptomatic as it is, causes irreversible loss of visual function in the afflicted. Early diagnosis of glaucoma and appropriate therapeutic intervention prevents intraocular pressure induced damage and visual field loss. In undergraduate medical and ophthalmology residency programmes, due to the wide variety of subjects to be covered, extensive training in diagnosis and therapy of glaucoma has not been possible. With the advent of computerised visual field analysis, it is imperative to train practising ophthalmologists in their interpretation and application in clinical practice. In addition, critical evaluation of the optic disc and retinal nerve fibre layer are gaining significance in glaucoma. The training helps the doctor to diagnose glaucoma before loss of productive and useful visual function.
Training Facilities
Aravind Eye Hospital has established a programme to provide high quality training to practising ophthalmologists and postgraduates in ophthalmology in diagnosis and therapy of glaucoma. The glaucoma service at each of the Aravind Eye Hospital with over 2000 patient visits every month, is well equipped to offer excellent hands on training in glaucoma diagnosis and therapeutics.
The glaucoma service is equipped with:
- Different types of Slit lamps with the requisite accessories like applanation tonometers and observer scopes.
- Indirect 90 D / 78 D lenses for optic disc and NFL evaluation.
- Goldmann and Zeiss 4 mirror gonioscopes.
- Automated visual field analysers (Humphrey, FDT)
- CT /GDx for RNFL measurement
- Phacometry to measure corneal thickness
- Nd: YAG for iridotomy,
- Argon lasers for trabeculoplasty
- Diode laser for Cyclophotocogulation
- Facilities for all type of glaucoma surgery
- Fundus cameras for documentation of optic disc and RNFL.
Aravind Eye Hospital has a well-trained faculty in the glaucoma service and it also has a long term fellowship programme in glaucoma for 24 months. Aravind is now committed to transfer its knowledge and skill in combating glaucoma to practising ophthalmologists and postgraduates.
Teaching curriculum
The course is structured to ensure that candidates gain experience and proficiency in early diagnosis and classification of glaucoma. The curriculum will include
- 90 D evaluation of the optic nerve head
- clinical evaluation of retinal nerve fibre layer in glaucoma, tonometry, Gonioscopy
- interpretation of the visual fields by automated perimetre
- medical, laser and surgical modalities of glaucoma management
The curriculum provides wet lab training to the candidates, supplemented by live demonstrations and lecture classes. A faculty member will be available to demonstrate and assist the candidates at wet lab.
The one month structured course will consist of didactic lectures and practical sessions covering:
- Introduction to Glaucoma
- ONH in glaucoma
- Tonometry
- Gonioscopy
- Visual fields and their interpretation
- Medical Therapy in glaucoma
- Laser applications in glaucoma
- Glaucoma filtering surgery & recent advances
- Imaging in glaucoma
- Congenital glaucoma
Faculty will demonstrate various types of glaucoma and their management by laser and surgical modalities. Emphasis will be given to demonstration of visual field analysis by computerised automated perimeters and their interpretation.
Practical sessions
- Gonioscopy and clinical evaluation of ONH, RNFL
- Evaluation of outpatients and post-operative ward rounds.
- Assisting and hands on experience in lasers and in wet lab.
- Fundus photography.
Course fee:
The course fee is Rs.10, 000/- and accommodation fee is Rs.1500/- per month. Food expenses are extra.
Recruitment and selection
The course is open to all ophthalmologists and postgraduates in ophthalmology. Two candidates will be admitted each month to this course in each centre of Aravind Eye Hospital. The candidates will need to apply in the prescribed application form and will be admitted after scrutinizing their credentials and certificates.
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