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Vision Centre is a boon for the People - A Patient
Venkatalakshmi (aged 51) had come all the way from Chennai to Theni to undergo a cataract surgery. For her it was an occasion to stay in her daughters place in Andipatti and get her left eye operated. After her husband’s retirement from service, she and her husband had shifted to Chennai to live with their two sons who were employed in a private firm in Chennai.
Venkatalaksmi could have availed treatment from her sons’ place in Chennai but she took great pride in visiting her native village of Muthukrishnapuram nearby Andipatti, as she could get enough support from her relatives too, who stayed in the same village.
Venkatalakshmi had visited Aravind Eye Hospital, Theni, long back and had undergone a surgery for the right eye. She decided to take up the surgery for the next time in the hospital for the other eye when she came to know about the vision centre from her daughter, Devi, staying in Andipatti. Devi came to know about the vision centre accidentally when she was on her way to the market place. She immediately enquired about the vision centre from the staff members and finally decided to take her mother to centre .The vision centre in Andipatti was situated in the town area and was closer to their house; therefore it was easier for them to avail treatment in their place instead of going all the way to the Aravind, Theni .
Venkatalakshmi had known about Aravind hospitals and their services offered and believed that the vision centre set up by the institution too would provide similar quality treatment and a personalized care.
In Andipatti she was greeted by the coordinator incharge of the vision centre. Her name was registered, after she paid the registration fee of Rs 10/- she was then attended to by the vision assistant. A case sheet was put, initial testing was done and the vision was recorded by the vision assistant. Refraction was also done. The coordinator of the vision centre recorded her complaints and explained them by teleconsultation to the ophthalmologist present in the Theni hospital through teleconnectivity .Venkatalaksmi also spoke to the doctor about her complaints. ‘I got clarified all my doubts from the doctor though I hesitated initially’ she remarked. The entire process was complete within 35 minutes. Venkatalakshmi was referred to the base hospital for surgery. She was given a referral letter from the vision centre for further examination and surgery. Venkatalakshmi went to the base hospital within two days of her referral from the vision centre. In the base hospital at Theni, she was asked to pay an amount of Rs 30 as the OP registration fee, as she was referred from the vision centre.Venkatalaksmi was examined again, and an ECCE surgery was performed. Postoperative examination was done on the third day and she was discharged soon after the examination. She was also supplied with medicines .Venkatalakshmi was asked to come for a follow-up after one month to the vision centre. A thorough examination was done in the vision centre .Her quality of vision improved after the surgery. She exclaimed that her vision seemed blurred previously, and she found it difficult to see things around her, but now she had good clarity of vision and found it easier, to perform her day to day task without any difficulty.
Venkatalakshmi expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the staff of vision centre as they had provided necessary treatment and had done the needful. She opined that the absence of a doctor in the centre did not matter much as she was able to interact with the doctor through tele connectivity. She felt that it was easier for her to go for the check up as it was nearby, or else she had to travel all the way to Theni which was nearly 10 kms away from her place and had to spend for her bus travel apart from the registration fee in the hospital. She said it was worthwhile to refer patients to the vision centre as people nearby Andipatti could access treatment facilities easily.
Venkatalakshmi was extremely satisfied with the services of vision centre and wished it to be continued. ‘It is a boon for the people with poor socio economic background, as the consultation charge is very low and people could access treatment immediately’’ she said. Venkatalakshmi’s’ interest and contentment could be understood from the fact that she had referred two more people from her place to the vision centre in Andipatti.
Lack of awareness cost him an eye
Negligence to take proper care of the eyes and lack of awareness about available eye care facilities have resulted in loss of sight in one of his eyes. However his second eye which was losing vision has regained normality thanks to Aravind Eye Hospital, whose intervention was sought without much delay.
The person’s name is Muthu, who belongs to a village in Sivaganga district. Aged 60, he has 7 children. Ten years back, he sustained a blow on his right eye causing a small wound on the visible area of the eye. But the inner portion of the eye was damaged severely and a big wound had developed in due course. After applying some local medicines the outer wound was cured gradually. Muthu did not get the eye examined by an eye doctor and the inner problem was left unattended. Consequently the right eye lost its vision. Even then he did not seek proper treatment.
Recently when vision in his left eye began to blur, Muthu informed his son-in-law who was aware of the services being rendered by Aravind Eye Hospital. He brought Muthu to Madurai-Aravind where his affected eye was examined and found to have afflicted with cataract. The hospital staff told him that he could regain normal vision in the left eye if he undergo cataract surgery with IOL implantation. Muthu gladly agreed for the operation.
He was admitted to the free section where surgery was performed successfully. After 3 days stay as inpatient he was discharged from hospital. During the follow up examination after one month, it was found that Muthu had regained clear vision.
Muthu thanked Aravind hospital and its staff for restoring his sight. However with somewhat remorseful voice he said, “Aravind is conducting eye camps in the villages of our district for the past many years. But I did not evince any interest in them and failed to know about eye problems and the facilities available for eye care. This has resulted in my losing sight in one eye. Now for the first time I have come to Aravind hospital which has saved vision in my next eye. If I was aware of the Aravind earlier I could have saved my right eye also. However, I could now see my grand children and play with them with the vision in my left eye” - Muthu concluded with a happy tone.
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