Introduction
Mr Haris Grozdanic
Hospital Optometrist
Västra Götalandsregionen
Sweden
Speaker 1 (20 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A)
Topic: Low Vision in Sweden and Norway
Synopsis: For nearly over 35 years Scandinavian has had one of the more accessible low vision clinical programs in the world. In this talk the speaker will cover the following points –
- Introduction – formal information about Sweden and Norway
- Statistic of low vision in the Scandinavia
- What resources and solutions are available for patients?
- How low vision is administrated – who is doing what?
Speaker’s Bio: Haris started-off his education as dispensing optician as part of formal high school education in Croatia. He completed BSc in Optometry in 2011 in Croatia as 1st generation of optometrists. Since 2015 he worked as optometrist in Norway and in 2020 move to Sweden to work as hospital-based optometrist. In 2018 start he also completed master’s degree in paediatric optometry and orthoptics in Norway and now preparing his master project which is hospital-based study about refractive development in children.
Haris is newly appointed in the second largest hospital in Norway where he is going to work as hospital optometrist.
His field of interest is Paediatric optometry/ophthalmology, orthoptics, binocular vision, amblyopia, ROP, myopia management, vision therapy.
Speaker 2 (20 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A)
Topic: Low Vision in Children: A Clinical Approach
Synopsis: There are about 400 million children in India. Population-based studies reflect the prevalence of blindness in children in India is 0.75/1000. The impact of visual impairment in children can impair motor, cognitive and sensory gaining, it also increases the risk of intellectual and emotional difficulties thus child faces issues in developing the self-esteem and social integration.
In children with vision impairment there should be a holistically approach to take care of their visual problems and needs, thus its required to understand the cause of Visual impairment and complete assessments so that the clinician can develop appropriate individual management plan for them. It focuses Clinical low vision examination, Functional vision assessment, educational status and intervention with appropriate Low Vision Devices to enhance the residual visual functions.
Speaker’s Bio: Ms Soniya Srivastava is the Sr. Faculty Optometrist and In-charge of Vision Enhancement Centre (Low Vision Clinic) and Clinical training at Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital. She has experience of 25 years in the field of Optometry.
She has completed her Graduation in Optometry and Fellowship in Optometry from L V Prasad Eye Institute where she received the “Best Fellow Award” for the year 1999.
She leads the Vision Enhancement Centre, which was developed in the year 2001, with an objective of serving the visually impaired group and improving their quality of life.
She has a special interest in the field of Low Vision and had been trained and participated various National & International workshops. She had been chosen as a National Focal Person for NFP Course by the Hong Kong Low Vision Society in the year 2014
She has leaded the National Low Vision Project under Sightsavers, in 2012 to 2015 where the objective was to establish and strengthen 21 Low Vision Clinics in the eye hospital in different cities that doesn’t have the services across the country.
Ms. Soniya Srivastava
Senior Faculty Optometrist
In-charge – Vision Enhancement Centre (VEC) & Clinical Training
Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital
Ms. Sarika Gopalakrishnan
Senior Optometrist
Head of Low Vision Care Services
Faculty – Elite school of Optometry
Sankara Nethralaya
Speaker 3 (20 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A)
Topic: Case Based Approach in Low Vision
Synopsis: In this talk the speaker would like to make a comprehensive presentation, in which she would give a brief note on the prevalence of Low vision, basic understanding of pathology classification causing low vision, what would be the visual impact of low vision on day-to-day activities. Then her presentation will include the evaluation methods based on clinical approach of a patient, detailed history taking, evaluation techniques, low vision devices for trial and how to choose the final magnifier of choice. She would explain a case scenario to understand the procedure in a better way. She will also include role of latest technologies of Virtual reality and Augmented reality in the field of low vision care. Visual rehabilitation services add completeness to any low vision work up. Evaluation of visual parameters using virtual reality and intervention to improve quality of life using augmented reality technology will be included and short videos will be demonstrated for better understanding. Finally follow up details of the patient would end the story.
Speaker’s Bio: Ms. Sarika Gopalakrishnan graduated B.S Optometry from Elite School of Optometry, Chennai in collaboration with BITS, Pilani with distinction performance in the year 2008. She has initiated GSA (Glaucoma Support and Awareness) program and has conducted awareness campaigns in and around the State. She has presented a number of research articles in National and International conferences. She is a Senior optometrist in Sankara Nethralaya and heads the Low vision care clinic for past 12 years. She was awarded ‘Best outstanding optometrist’ for the year 2009-2010. She has initiated comprehensive rehabilitation services and multidisciplinary management of patients with visual impairment in Sankara Nethralaya. She is a senior faculty in Elite School of Optometry and she lectures on low vision care and geriatric optometry for undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has organized multiple CME programs and workshops on ‘Low Vision Care’ all over India. She has trained optometrists from different parts of the world to initiate and practice Low vision care. She has received ‘Knight of the Blind’ award on Helen Keller Remembrance day in June 2011 from Lion’s Club International. She has been trained in evaluating the Functional vision assessment and she selects the Indian Blind Cricket team for World cup according to the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) criteria. She was honored as a ‘Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry’ at the AAO meeting 2014, held at Denver, USA. She is the first Indian woman to complete clinical candidacy fellowship in the field of Low Vision. She was instrumental in bringing changes to the lives of underprivileged students with visual impairment in the state of Tamil Nadu to provide them Portable video magnifier at free of cost. She is currently pursuing her PhD and she has multiple national and international peer reviewed publications in the field of low vision. She is also a facilitator of World Health Organization (WHO) document on Low vision rehabilitation services. She is closely associated with policies of Optometry education and she is a member to prepare Indian Entry level Optometry Competency skill Standard (IELOCS)
Speaker 4 (20 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A)
Topic: Low Vision: The African Scenario
Synopsis: Majority of visually impaired people live in low-income countries. While significant strides have been made in reduction of avoidable vision loss in Africa, there is a growing need for provision of appropriate care for people living with low vision. This talk will explore the burden of low vision in Africa and the barriers to provision of effective low vision care.
Speaker’s Bio: Didier is an Ophthalmic Clinical Officer with an MSc with distinction in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Research, and with strong research interest in Low vision care. He has extensive clinical experience managing eye diseases in Rwanda, and he is currently an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Rwanda in the Ophthalmology department.
Mr Uwacu Tuyishime Dider Fidele
Ophthalmic Clinical Officer
Assistant Lecturer, Ophthalmology Department
University of Rwanda