IVI International Eye Health conference, 3-4 October, opens

The India Vision Institute-hosted Eye Health in a Changing World virtual international conference opened today with a strong commitment by leaders in the profession to look at issues, old and new, confronting countries. 

The conference, 3-4 October, comes at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the world hard and everyone, including eye health professionals, retail and companies, are trying to find innovative ways of working in the changed circumstances.

The conference is dedicated to the memory of late Professor Brien Holden, who along with Dr GN Rao, Founder-Chair, LV Prasad Eye Institute, helped conceptualise and initiate IVI. 

The conference commenced with an opening session comprising leading speakers, including Dr GN Rao, RN Mohanty, President, Vision 2020 and CEO, Sightsavers India, Ms Yvonne Holden, wife of Professor Brien Holden, and IVI’s CEO, Vinod Daniel. 

Australia’s High Commissioner in India, HE Barry O’Farrell and Akash Goyle, Country Manager and Managing Director, Luxottica India, provided messages to the conference, wishing it all success.

The conference also marks our commemoration of the World Eye Sight Day on 8 October. 

\"The conference will include several leading eye health experts, including Peter Holland, CEO, International Association for the Prevention of Blindness  (IAPB), Prof. Kovin Naidoo, Senior Vice President with Essilor International, and Dr Alarcos Cieza, United Head, Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation, WHO, speaking on topics of great interest and relevance to eye health professionals. Over two days, the conference will feature several other keynote sessions, panel discussions and parallel tracks,\" said IVI\'s CEO Vinod Daniel. 

“There are some 1,220 registered delegates, including professionals and students from India and 36 other countries at the conference. The plenary and parallel sessions will have some 71 key speakers representing the eye health profession from around the world. We are pleased that the call for abstracts received a tremendous response with over 201 submissions, of which 127 presentations (55 Oral and 73 Poster) are by students and professionals,” Mr Daniel noted.

A virtual trade fair for all to access at the Conference will be an added attraction. Over 40 exhibitors are showcasing their products, services, and innovations. 

About India Vision Institute 

We are an independent, not-for-profit registered Indian trust established in 2012. Our approach to advance the optometry and eye care sector has been through conceptualizing and implementing programs and strategically addressing eye health awareness, continuing education, building leadership, and promoting the research culture. Some 300 capacity building programs, 55 research grants and 17 travel grants so far have benefited over 12,000 eye health professionals. IVI also focuses on addressing avoidable blindness, especially uncorrected refractive error, through vision screening programs and provision of free spectacles in disadvantaged communities and remote areas. To date, 846 vision screening programs across 18 states in India have benefitted over 3,20,352 individuals from the underprivileged communities, including 2,54,406 school children. We have so far distributed 49, 848 free spectacles through these programs. Visit www.indiavisioninstitute.org for more information.

For additional information, call Shekhar Nambiar on 9810154167.