Incidence of Blindness

As per the NPCB – Who survey conducted 20 years ago, the incidence of blindness in North Telengana is as follows:

Apart from this neighbouring states of Chattisgarh (Baster Dist) and Maharastra (Gadhchiroli & Chandrapur Dist) also lack those facilities. Thus the drainage area of the hospital is large. The problem is also very formidable. To this figure, every year more blind villagers are added increasing the challenge.

Approach to the Problem

To tackle this large problem idea to start a rural eye hospital was mooted. The Lions club of Karimnagar decided to follow the message of Ms Helen Keller to serve the rural poor. Inspired by Lion OP Tibrewala, then Lions governor of Dist 324 C2  the club approached the then Dist. collector Sri R. Chandrashekar.  He Promptly agreed to help and allotted three acres of land on the outskirts of karimnagar free of cost. With the help of the subsequent  collectors & district administration the project took shape. Built with the help of various agencies & philanthropists, the building was inaugurated on 20th february 1988 by late Sri P. V. Narasimharao, then human resources minister, Govt. of India. Notable donors were sight savers who gave Rupees three lakhs for the building Rupees two lakhs for the zilla parishad Karimnagar form ist mineral Cess Funds, M/s Kesoram Cements(Rs. 30,000/-). Money why also raised by selling raffle tickets. These all the starts of society were involved in the project construction.

Facilities Available

Located on a three acre site on the outskirts of Karimnagar town, in sylvan surroundings, the hospital has 22,000 sqft built in area. It has air conditioned OP block (45000 sqft) with a waiting hall,  eight consulting rooms for various eye tests. It has all the required equipment such as auto refractometers, Direct & Indirect Ophthalmoscopes, A scan, A+B scan, automated field of vision analyzer, slit lamps etc.,

It has also a well equipped retinal wing (Late Sri Ram Biyani wing) having fundus camera, Fluorescin angiography equipment & Green laser for  treating retinal cases. This department was  equipped with help from Share & Care USA.

We have computerized OP Department, Pharmacy & Ophthalmic shop which provides spectacles at subsidized rates.

In-Patient Services

We have five air conditioned operation theaters with eight OT tables & three Phaco machines (Centurion, Infiniti, Laureate), Five operating microscopes all the necessary equipment such as operating microscope, cassette sterilizers, Phako system for Phako surgery , ultra sound instrument scanner etc., We also have emergency theatre for septic cases.

Field Analyser	Mineral Cool Water for the villagers
Computer-Attendence	Computerised OP and Medical Records

Out Reach Programme

The out reach programme consists of sending our hospital staff to the villages, screen the villagers for eye problems at their door step and such of shose needing surgery are brought to the hospital & operated. Those having refractory errors are provided glasses at a nominal charge. Those camp services, including transport & operation is free. Those camps are very popular amongst the villagers. About 10-12 camps are conducted each month.

We plan to reach every village of the district for providing eye care, so as to eliminate available blindness from the district.