R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS Delhi to develop mobile app for eye patients

New Delhi: A mobile application is being developed by the R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi for eye patients to create awareness about hospital admission and to improve the treatment and care of patients awaiting corneal transplantation.

Eye patients from across the country will be able to consult doctors at the facility through the app and get their advice. It will also help to track and constantly monitor the patients who are waiting for surgery.

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"COVID has also made us realise that you have to approach people in a different manner because it may be difficult to approach physically at all times, especially those living in far-off places," Dr. J S Titiyal, chief of the centre, said.

"Through the application, doctors can have direct interactions with patients. There will also be a camera system, using which patients can share photos of their eyes and explain their problems and symptoms. Doctors can diagnose them, and if the patients are registered with us, we can tell them the timeframe for admission and surgery at the centre," he said.

Titiyal said patients can also be called in on priority based on their disease progression.

Besides, the app will also help track patients who have undergone transplantation, he added.

After transplant surgery, follow-up becomes quite difficult, the doctor said.

"If somebody develops a rejection of a transplant, it has to be taken care of within a few days. If the patient comes after one or two weeks, you cannot reverse the rejection. If such a patient is tracked, he or she can be rushed to a nearby hospital so that the graft can be saved.

"We will also be connected to various hospitals where people are trained to carry out transplantation or can take care of post-transplant patients," Titiyal said.

The app is expected to be operational in six months.

National Eye Donation Fortnight celebrations are organized annually from 25th August to 8th September by National Eye Bank housed in Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi for promoting awareness regarding eye donation, felicitating the donor families, government and non-government organizations for their crucial role towards this noble cause.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya during the 37th National Eye Donation Fortnight celebrations stated, "In a country that is globally recognized for seeing health as a seva and considering its health professionals as life saviours, we can similarly create "Seva bhav" of donating organs and make a mind-shift in our countrymen towards eye and organ donation."

Underscoring the importance of eye donation, he stated that organ donation provides quality life to the recipient and a sense of satisfaction for the donor families. Dr. Mandaviya expressed his heartfelt thanks to the donor families for their noble deed of donating the corneas of their loved ones which will give the gift of vision to needy patients. Quoting Bhagwat Gita's shloka of "karmanye vadhika raste, Ma phaleshu kadachana", Dr. Mandaviya also highlighted about the country's vibrant Indian culture and traditions that teach us "Seva Bhav and "Sahyog".

Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director AIIMS, Prof Jeewan S Titiyal, Chief, RP Centre, Prof Radhika Tandon, Chairperson, National Eye Bank along with senior faculty of AIIMS, RP Centre, experts, representatives of supporting government organizations, partner institutions, and NGOs/societies, school children and senior govt officials were present at the event.

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