Need For Cataract Surgery:

Cataract is a condition that affects the eyesight of most people above the age of sixty years. Except for surgical intervention, there is no medical treatment available for the present to treat cataract. Cataract leads to total blindness and if not removed in time, hyper mature, may lead to lens induced glaucoma, a painful emergency condition.

Project Goals:

Our goal is to help visually impaired people due to cataract, to regain near normal vision so that they can carryout routine activities at home and also earn a living if possible, instead of depending on others for everything. This cataract surgery gives them good vision for the rest of their life provided they do not have any other complications.

We plan to conduct 2,500 cataract surgeries during the year 2005-2006 in rural areas within 150 Kms. around Bangalore.

Strategies to achieve the goal:

There will be bi-monthly cataract surgery in all the eight Drishtidana Sevakendras - taluk hospitals and primary health centres, selected for our Drishtidana Sevayajna. There will be weekly cataract surgery at Viveka Drishti base hospital in Bangalore. In addition to this we have entered into an agreement with M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore. We conduct screening camps in rural areas and transport the patients to M.S. Ramaiah Medical College. The ophthalmology department of the college conducts the surgery and looks after the patients free of cost. Sri Vivekananda Sevashrama supplies all necessary materials for the surgery.

We are determined to Complete our target of 2500 cataract surgeries well before 31st March 2006.

Unique features of Sri Vivekananda Sevashrama Eye Camps

All the activities are carried out by dedicated band of highly motivated volunteers. This includes ophthalmic surgeons and refractionists.
Free food for the patients and their attendants is provided for three days at rural cataract surgery camps in association with a local service organisation
Major portion of the surgeries at rural camps is suture less small incision cataract surgery with Intra ocular lens implantation.
We are conducting Phaco Emulsification cataract surgery at our rural cataract surgery camps. This is a unique attempt in bringing the latest technology to the poorest of the poor never attempted before by anyone. We are searching for donors who can share the cost of foldable lens. For the present we use 5.25 mm phaco lens.
We conduct cataract surgeries at taluk hospitals, primary health centres and even at primary health units, in our attempt to take ophthalmology to villages.We do not believe in bringing cataract patients to our base hospital for surgery. Our well-equipped mobile unit with modern equipment can conduct cataract surgery at any hospital fit for conducting cataract surgery.