L.V. Prasad Eye Institute--Hyderabad--Completed 6 Jun 2016

On April 18, 2016 we visited the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad

The reception area is cheery and inviting to young people.

Sam Balasundaram, Associate Director for Public Relations, took very good care of us.

The caricature in this picture is well known throughout India...his name is Chota Bheem.

Here, at the temporary sign that names the Child Sight Institute, is the head of the Department,
Elder and Sister Newton, Sam Balasundaram, and another staff person. This is where LDSC donated the eye care and testing equipment for the Cataract Surgery Program for Children.

Here are some of the children being examined in the Children's Eye Care Center.

The children wait to see the technician or doctor in a fun environment to reduce their anxiety...

and the anxiety of their parents.

Many of the patients here have more than eye problems. They recognize that, and provide physical therapy for the children as well as special training for parents of children with special needs.

The new Chemotherapy Unit opened recently as well.

The morning we arrived they had just dedicated the Ray of Sunshine area.

Each year, LVPEI harvests over 6,500 corneas.
This eye bank, unlike others in India, has no waiting list for people who need new corneas.
They have harvested over 54,000 corneas and have transplanted over 27,000 of them into needy patients who could not pay. 

We then traveled about an hour away to the LVPEI Institute of Optometry and Vision Sciences--a school for optometrists.









We also had the opportunity to meet and visit with the founder of the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in 1987--Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, now Chair of the the Trustees.

Directly across the street from the optometry school is the LVPEI International Center for Advancement of Rural Eye Care and Eye Technician School.
LVPEI has trained over 18,200 eye care professionals from India and abroad.

We had a great experience learning about LVPEI and visiting with the doctors, staff and administrators.