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I N S I G H T Bi-monthly Herald of the Association of Schools & Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), INDIA WOD

Ahoy!

WORLD OPTOMETRY DAY (WOD) evokes great anticipation and affiliation amongst practicing optometrists, optometry schools & colleges, their faculty and managements AND above ALL, our budding student-optometrists. Each year thousands congregate for WOD events & celebrations across

India. ASCO’s member schools & colleges are always at the forefront for WOD, supporting events by member & non-member colleges. Spectacular, innovative events, social service (eye camps), cultural, seminars, workshops were held last year by students with the involvement of practicing optometrists in every region. ASCO supported them to the hilt! In 2013, WOD is being celebrated from March 22 to March 29 with mega-events in the North (Gurgaon), West (Ahmedabad), East (Kolkata), North-East (Guwahati), South (Bangalore).(See letter below for venues)In addition to local celebrations in their respective cities, the students & faculty of colleges in each zone will converge at the mega-event location

in each zone. Dates in each zone for the mega events are given below. COLLEGES must contact the mega-event organizers immediately for accommodation & other logistical arrangements.ASCO has contacted a large number of Eye-Care companies for sponsorship support. ASCO has also generated a novel event schedule see below for upto two days of events. Of course, the organizers are welcome to modify this schedule to suit the requirements of their zone. Like last year you can expect enormous new talent from our young participants. WOD Ahoy !

ASCO letter to WOD sponsorsDear Sir/Madam,

Greetings from ASCO-India!

As you are well aware World Optometry Day (WOD) is a little more than a month away (23rdMarch). Events and celebrations are scheduled throughout the country, stretched over a week till end-March. To mark this occasion ASCO-India has come up with various promotional activities (listed in the ASCO Event Schedule in this issue) along with a Proposal for your kind reference.

This year ASCO will be celebrating Pan-India in the following locations (hundreds of optometry students and practitioners in the states of the respective regions will be converging to these centers)

� North Zone: Amity University, Gurgaon on 22nd March monicoarchaudhry@gmail.com � North-East Zone: Sankaradeva Netralaya, Gauhati on 24th March soujanya50@yahoo.co.in � East Zone:NSHM(KolkataCampus),Kolkata on 28th and 29thMarch soumendra.ghosh@nshm.com � West Zone: Town Hall, Ahmedabad on 28th and 29th March usmmemon@yahoo.co.in

� South Zone:- Sankara College of Optometry, B’lore on 28th and 29th March dot_diwakar@yahoo.co.in

We request you to kindly go through the details and send us your contribution in the form of a cheque/DD drawn in favor of “ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS & COLLEGES OF OPTOMETRY”, payable at Mumbai, along with your artwork and logo (for posters, banners, flyers, displays, etc) before 10th Feb 2013. The entitlements for different types of sponsorships are listed in the issue. In addition to these, the zonal organizers look forward to local contributions for each of the 5 mega events. For any further queries or information please contact the undersigned at the earliest!

Thanking you,

Vivek G Mendonsa President, ASCO-India Prof P Sudarshan CEO, ASCO-India M: +91-98 202 888 17, vivekm@asco-india.org M: +91-98454-11129, ceo@asco-india.org

Platinum Sponsorship (Rs10 lacs)Offline: Backdrop, Pens & notebook, Standee, Tent Card, Floor, T-shirt, Caps, Banner, Entrance Gate, Tea Mug, Parking Sticker, Invitation Card, LCD Screen, Participation Certificate / Gift, Balloon, Every hour/start of every new session announcement, Food Coupons, Wiper Tags Online: Banners ad on Asco website for 6 months, Mailer, Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+,etc.GOLD Sponsorship (Rs 7.5 lacs)Offline: Backdrop, Pens & notebook, Standee, Tent Card, T-shirt, Banner, Entrance Gate, Parking Sticker, Invitation Card, LCD Screen, Participation Certificate/Gift, Food CouponsOnline: Banners ad on Asco website for 3 months, Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+,etc.SILVER SPONSORSHIP (Rs 5 lacs)Offline: Backdrop, Standee, Tent Card, Banner, Entrance Gate, Invitation Card, LCD ScreenOnline: Banners ad on Asco website for 1 month, Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+,etc.BRONZE SPONSORSHIP (Rs 2.5 lacs)Offline: Backdrop, Standee, Tent Card, Banner, Entrance Gate, Invitation CardOnline: Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+,etc.

Day 1 : The event would take off with a small but interesting introduction to ASCO and the essential role it provides in spreading the importance of Optometry through its Associate Institutes. It would also outline the various fun-filled events spread across the entire 2 day event; Tail the Donkey: The audience would be asked to gather in a large congregation area wherein they would be called on the stage and blindfolded, while asking them to stick the tail of the donkey accurately. The person who is able to stick it perfectly or close to it would be chosen as the winner/s. Frame a star: Large cut outs of frames of various size and designs would be placed on a stand. The audience would be requested to place their heads on the stand while a photograph would

be clicked with a pose of their choice. The most weird, funniest pose wins the prize. Opto-front: A workshop to be conducted by the experts from the industry highlighting the latest trends & technologies in the field of Optometry and the advantage it offers from a career point of view Lens Spot: The participants would be asked to stand at a particular place on the stage and would have to identify who is wearing a contact lens and who is not, as the boy/girl wearing it would stand at a certain distance from the participants. The correct guess in the minimum time would win. Docu View: A documentary would be shown to the audience portraying the evolution of Optometry and the need for it in today’s evolving world of Eye care. Eyes on You – A fashion show: The participants would be asked to walk on a ramp sporting the latest sunglasses and contact lenses. The

guy/girl with the most desirable look will be the winners.

Day 2 Future Sight: An interactive career seminar would be conducted by a well known speaker from the industry on the growing opportunities in the field of Optometry and its allied industries. My Words, Your Vision: A blindfolded person with an object in his hand would narrate the structure to a person standing on the other side, with a wall separating them. The person on the other side would have random pieces in front of him and have to remodel the object in a certain time frame. EYE Q): A quiz contest comprising questions pertaining to Optics / Eye Care / Instruments would take place in the main congregation area. It will also include a section, wherein the participants would be asked to guess the celebrity name by looking at a close up shot of the eye wearing a frame.

Dekh zara jhoom ke: A dance performance in association with a prominent NGO featuring visually challenged children will take place in the main arena. Bull’s eye: The participants would be asked to shoot at a cluster of balloons in a minimum of 3 shots. Winners to be decided based on the maximum number of hits he /she achieves. Prize distribution: The lucky winners spanning the entire 2 day event would be honored with Medals / Certificates / Cash vouchers / Gift vouchers. The event would be concluded with the prominent members of ASCO outlining plans that the organization aims to achieve in the future. A feedback form to be circulated at the end of the mega event.

Optometry DayMarch 23-29, 2013

ASCO in

‘ASCO-SightSavers’ prestigious Low Vision Faculty Training & LV Clinics Project:SURGING AHEAD!After a successful training course in Oct for the 1st batch of faculty-trainees in Low Vision, at the Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai, training of a second batch will take place on April 11, 12 in the same place. Kit grant ceremonies were held in Dec 2012 in B’lore, Hyderabad, Kerala to hand over comprehensive LV Clinic Kits to the Colleges that participated in 1st batch from the South. The kits are excellent, as the training was, according to participants. ASCO & SightSavers sincerely hope that the colleges will make optimal use of these inputs by quickly establishing LV Clinics, training students and attracting actual patients. Similar events are due in Chennai, Pune, Mumbai. 2nd Batch-Faculty Training: There has been an overwhelming & enthusiastic response for participation in the 2nd batch of LV Faculty Training in April. Registrations are closed with a few applicant colleges still waitlisted.This project was essentially meant for Optometry Colleges in the South & Maharashtra. Exceptions are made to accommodate a couple of colleges in Gujarat & the somewhat isolated North East. ASCO hopes that a review of this project will encourage sponsors to extend its coverage across India. Lack of LV Clinics in colleges & the lacunae in them, were highlighted in ASCO’s path-breaking Infrastructure Mapping (IM) exercise, as the biggest gap (followed by BV clinics & CL clinics)This project was opened out to both ASCO Member Colleges as well as non-member colleges, w/o discrimination for the training component. Kit Grants, however, are for Member-Colleges only, the value of the LV Clinic Kit being Rs 70,000/-

I’m sure you agree that the most difficult and time-consuming part of research writing is referencing & bibliography management. You would have come across a few popular ones like ENDNOTE, Reference Manager etc. These are costly softwares that are programmed to make our research work easy. Recently I came across a new reference managing software, named Mendeley. Click on this link for information: http://www.mendeley.com/

It is as comprehensive as most of the commercial ones. You need to just register-download the desktop version, import references (pdf ) and explore to manage your references efficiently. The tutorials are quite useful and the whole tool is pretty user friendly. Let us use these tools to make our life a lot easier and bring about more publications. Please share any such useful tools/softwares with all of us.

Shaheen Hossen Saroo (Ist Year B Optom), BVP School of Optometry, PuneFrom the first day I joined my course, I got a warm welcome from the class teacher as well as students. I got mingled here very easily, thanks to the good and friendly nature of the people here. Though, I took admission late, it did not take me much time to catch up with the lessons due to the support of teachers and classmates. I am really happy to be here and be a part of this institute.KRISHNA-Aditya Jyot School of Optometry, Mumbai Ever since I grasped ability to understand things, I have seen my father being a serving hand to society. From refraction to dispensing, he has helped me get moulded in a optical atmosphere. I had misconceptions regarding my father’s field and its limitations but now when I stand as an upcoming optometrist, I realize my broader future. I now believe it’s a authentic, career oriented field. I expect more people to know its breadth get involved in this noble profession. I would myself entice prospective students to learn about optometry. I extend my sincere thanks to Aditya Jyot Institute of Optometry for enhancing my knowledge and upgrading my skills. I am indebted to my faculty for being my guide and boosting my passion for “Optometry”.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: PUNEDigital Imaging & Fundus Examination-Lecture & Demonstration by Prof Rajesh Wadhwa- (under Recent Advances in Diagnostics and Examination'); 8th March 2013; D Y Patil School of Optometry, Pimpri, Pune, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. ALL Optometrists and Optometry Students WELCOME.

NO REGISTRATION FEE. (This is a part of ASCO’s Continued Optometry Education [COE] Program) Prof Rajesh Wadhwa, eminent Optometrist, is President, Indian Optometric Federation (IOF). Contact Prof Veshal Madan (dypopts@gmail.com) for details

GRANTS, GRANTS, GRANTS! by Ramesh S Ve, Hon. Secy, ASCO ramesh.sve@manipal.eduThere are many grants available to optometry students, faculty, institutions AND practicing optometrists, both within India and abroad. Many are not aware of these and many more seek guidance on how to apply to the selected grants(s) properly and effectively. I have given below a step by step procedure (gross draft- general guideline) to apply for travel grant fellowship. Also below is a list of various grant providers to whom we can apply for travel grant fellowship… WCO is popular for optometrists the world over and

in India…..www.worldoptometry.orgOther clinical international fellowships1. http://uwaterloo.ca/international-optometric-

bridging-program/2. http://www.abdocollege.org.uk/3. http://www.covd.org/Here's a very useful link to learn all about RESEARCH GRANTS & TRAVEL GRANTS: the various sources, conditions, procedures, to how to improve your chances of success and the forms you need to fill: www.ncbs.res.in/rdo/grants

TIPS to SIMPLIFY REFERENCING & BIBLIOGRAPHY MANAGEMENT for RESEARCHERS/RESEARCH WRITERS Ramesh S Ve, Hon. Secy, ASCO ramesh.sve@manipal.edu

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Training Programs, Workshops12 April 2013, at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad: 29th Low Vision Program: Most eye care professionals are still unfamiliar with low vision rehabilitation services. So the needs of the visually impaired are unmet. This training program is designed to sensitize low vision professionals to the needs of the visually impaired. Besides strengthening the basic concepts and skills to evaluate and prescribe the appropriate devices, the program will focus on state-of-the-art technological advances in low vision. It will be an interesting mix of didactic lectures

and challenging case scenarios. For further details, please write to us at education@lvpei.org, ivi@indiavisioninstitute.org or visit www.lvpei.org, www. Indiavisioninstitute.org (also see ‘Status of the ASCO-SightSavers LV Clinics Project alongside)

Capacity Building Workshops: for Optometry Educators in East & North-East India: 4-8 March 2013 Vidyasagar College of Optometry & Vision Science, Kolkata; 7-11 March 2013 Bansara Institute of Ophthalmic

Sciences, Shillong; Proposed Workshops (be in touch with IVI for dates & venues); April 2013 Workshop on Myopia – research areas & latest developments; July 2013 Workshop on Grant proposal writing (also see article on applying for grants in this issue of INSIGHT); July 2013 Workshop on Research Methodology; Contact Details: IVI, 737, Rd 37, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033; Tel: + 91 40 2354 8269, Email: ivi@indiavisioninstitute.org; Facebook: India Vision Institute www.indiavisioninstitute.org;

EXCEPTIONALLY LOW-COST EDUCATIONAL LOANS for BRIGHT & REALLY NEEDY STUDENTS for HIGHER STUDIES !!!HAS ANYONE HEARD of EDUCATIONAL LOANS @ 2% SIMPLE INTEREST ???RANG DE, India’s iconic micro-finance organization, provides such educational loans for very needy, bright students keen to become graduates but cannot afford bank loans. Their loans used to be at 5% Simple interest, which is itself ridiculously low! But the board members of Rang De encouraged further lowering to 2%, making it the most affordable educational loan

world-over, in cases where the educational institute/college enters into a very simple, easy MOU with Rang De for mutual facilitation of the scheme.Rang De and Sankara College of Optometry, B’lore signed such an MOU recently to enable the very first beneficiary, bright Optometry Student, Bharathi Negi of MP, to pursue her 4-yr BSc (Optometry)

course. The loan covers Bharathi’s College fees, books, Optometry Kit & living expenses. This scheme is open for ALL professional courses in India for really needy and bright students. ASCO is mighty proud that this scheme was inaugurated in Optometry Education! CONTACT ceo@asco-india, intellsouthtech@gmail.com if interested.

Student Speak

(a division of Pushpagiri Vitreo Retina Institute)is a not-for-profit, super specialty eye care Hospital with State of the Art facilities housing all sub specialties and Services: Vitreo Retinal, Cornea & Anterior Segment, Glaucoma, Oculoplastic, Modern Cataract & Refractive Surgery (LASIK), all backed by experts. The super Specialty Eye Care Institute was started in 2007 under the leadership of Shri R Govind Hari, Chairman– Admin and Dr K Vishwanath MS, DO, Msc (London), Chairman– Medical. PVRI has evolved as one of the leading Super Specialty eye care institutes in South India. Nearly 60% of the patients are treated free of cost.

PVRI started the School of Optometry in 2011 with two diploma courses: Diploma in Optometry Technician (DOT) and Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant (DOA) with capacity of 30 students in each. Students have enrolled recently for 2nd batch. Plans are a foot to start the degree course in Optometry.

NEW PG DIPLOMA COURSES: The institute is commencing 3 post graduate courses in ophthalmic sciences with affiliation from OSMANIA UNIVERSITY - Hyderabad. one of the top universities in India. Promote students for these career defining courses!

1) Advanced PG Diploma in Medical Ophthalmology - 2 years

2) Diploma in Community Eye Health - 2 years3) Diploma in Ophthalmic Medical Technology 1yearEligibility : Graduate in life sciences.Academic Year start : July - August 2013Fee Structure : Affordable (No management quota)Clinical Training at Pushpagiri Eye Institute for further details, Email : pvri.india@gmail.com, Phone : 09985908806.

New ASCO Member: Pushpagiri Eye Institute

Indian: a. Governmental: Indian Council of Medical

Research (ICMR), Department of Bio Technology (DBT), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

b. Non-Governmental: Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT)

International: a. World Council of Optometry (WCO)

The structure or format of application for grant is more or less uniform, kindly follow these as gross guide lines and read through the application for more specifics as required for grant application. As only CORRECT & COMPLETE APPLICATION are ONLY accepted for possible consideration. Make sure the agency receives your application before 2 months of the conference dates.

1. Submitting a research work for International conference: Kindly look for the important dates they would respond to the status of your abstract Acceptance as poster or oral.

2. Travel Grant / registration waiver: For all young researchers (<35 yrs at the time of application)

most of the governmental grant agencies also support Travel & registration for expenses. But in general travel grant support can be appealed without any age limit, the key factor into consideration would be how active are you in your field of research. Very importantly, a clear statement of purpose on “How attending this conference would help your professional, academic and clinical care” should be carefully & thoughtfully drafted.

3. Airline certificate: Just a week earlier of your abstract approval date, get this certificate details from your travel agent (Trade wings etc). Governmental travel grants want a certificate from AirIndia, draft a letter on subject: Airline certificate. Mentioning the conference particulars, dates and your travel itinerary in the letter. Preferably print it in department letter head and address it to The Manager, Air India, Bangalore. Your travel agent would help you with getting this.

4. Letter of Approval: As a reply mail to the acceptance letter, ask the organizers to provide customized (with your name) Letter of Acceptance. This can be mailed as a separate attachment, faxed or posted to you at the earliest. Grant bodies do not consider e-mail

correspondence as official notification. The original letter has to be enclosed along with the grant application.

5. Buying tickets: Most agencies would provide a consent mail / letter to support your travel, so the initial booking should be made by you. This information should also be attached in some of the grant applications.

6. Plan your grant applications: Most of the applications usually provide support only once every three to four years, so plan your conference appropriately. It leaves a bad impression if you keep applying for two or maximum of three agencies for travel support, though you should avail only one if more than one agency approves your travel grant. Such practices are to be avoided as much as possible.

7. Letter from Institute: A letter from the head of institute, forwarded through the HOD stating partial support for travel / stay/ registration, provides MORE chance of your grant approval.

8. On return: Make sure all necessary proofs for attending the conference along with report on the conference should be submitted. The funding would then be provided to the institute/ head directly.

Common steps to apply for travel grant fellowships:There are multiple funding resources we can approach for travel support:

This Optometry College was launched in 2008 as the Educational Wing of Malabar Eye Hospital & Research Centre, already an established name in the field of Vision Care in this part of Kerala. The aim was to train and equip a second line of defense in the fight against various eye defects and ailments, beginning with degree programs in Optometry and Hospital Management. The public response was overwhelming.

• The Eye Hospital & the College: The hospital, manned with the best in vision care and equipped with the most advanced technology, after 3 decades of meticulous service, set up the college to train young men and women in Optometry

for positions in Eye Hospitals and Optical stores within India and abroad

• Student strength: Meteoric rise in strength from the first batch (2008) to the 3rd batch (2010)

• Guiding lights: Dr K S Chandrakanth, Chairman & Chief Consultant, with his magic touch and team of Ophthalmologists & technicians plus the experienced and devoted Optometrists in the Faculty. An enterprising visionary P M Rasheed, our MD, keen on constant infrastructure development

• Extra–curricular activities: A magazine ITHALUKAL (PETALS), Seminars, Exhibitions on

World Sight Day and the Day of the White Cane. The highlight of 2012 World Sight Day was the walking tour Through the Tunnel of Darkness, a rare opportunity for those with sight to experience the world of the blind

• The walking Ambassadors: They do Internships in places like LVPEI, SANKARA NETHRALAYA Kolkata and Chennai, making us proud of their good work. So they will in whatever sphere of life they enter!

We strive to serve the cause of Vision Care in all our activities!

NEW ASCO MEMBER! MALABAR COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY & HEALTH EDUCATION, CALICUT

Education Grants:http://www.srtt.org/individual_grants/education_grants.htm

The Trusts provide grants for education, which is divided into two components:

� Scholarships: For students pursuing professional studies in India.

� Travel Grants: For students proceeding abroad for higher studies and professionals for mid-career courses / conferences / workshops.

Scholarships: The Trust awards merit scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate studies in India. The objective of the programme is to encourage outstandingly meritorious / deserving students to pursue academic excellence. The programme for 2012-13 has ended. The details for the Studies in India Programme 2013-14, would be highlighted in the month of August 2013.

Please note that the Sir Ratan Tata Scholarships for study in the UK and the USA have been suspended for 2012. Resumption of the scholarships will be communicated on this page, in this space.

Travel Grants: Travel grants are provided to the students proceeding for post-graduate and doctoral studies and for professionals proceeding for their mid-career programmes or to attend relevant and meaningful seminars and conferences abroad.

� The grant to students consists of only a partial international airfare from India to the university / organisation abroad. The students proceeding for fall session (July, August and September) are requested to submit their personal application to the Trusts, after finalising the university they intend to join. The last date for applying to the Trusts is May 31 every year. Students proceeding abroad for the spring session are requested to contact the Trusts three / four months prior to their departure, after finalising the university.

� The grant to professionals offers partial travel assistance towards return international airfare and visa fees. Professionals are requested to apply three / four months prior to their departure.

A travel grant application can be made with the following documents

� A written application from the student / professional

� Statement of purpose

� Updated resume

� In case of students, confirmed admission letter from the university abroad stating details of admission (no email accepted)

� In case of professionals, letter of invitation from organisers (no emails accepted), along with letter of leave of absence from employers

� Also, mention the mode of presentation (oral / poster)

� Recent pay slip/s of all earning members in the family

The Trusts maintain an egalitarian and professional approach in granting the various forms of financial assistance to individuals. Hence it may be noted that awarding financial assistance to individuals is at the discretion of the Trusts and their decision is final.

Contact: The Secretary & Chief Accountant, Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Bombay House, Homi Mody Street, Mumbai - 400 001

Tel: 022 6665 8282 Fax: 022 6665 8013

Hope all this is helpful! Ramesh S Ve, M Phil, (PhD) Asst Prof, Dept of Optometry, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal-576104 Email: ramesh.sve@manipal.edu, optoramesh_gp@yahoo.com (M) +918861330950 (O) +918202923102, (R) +918202570895

ASCO ANNOUNCES LIFE MEMBERSHIP OPTION for EXISTING MEMBER-COLLEGES and PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS

Indian Optometry Research UpdateA comparison of near-dissociated heterophoria tests in free space: Sanker N, Prabhu A, Ray A. Clin Exp Optom 2012;95(6):638-642. Corresponding author: Nijil Sanker nijilsanker@gmail.com Dept of Optometry, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal Univ, Manipal (All authors)

Several clinical tests have been established for the measurement of heterophoria. In this paper, near heterophoria assessment in free space with 3 methods were compared with the modified Thorington test, the most repeatable test of all. Results show that none of the other three tests can be interchanged with the modified Thorington test in free space

Glaucoma in India: Estimated Burden of Disease: George R1, Ramesh S2, Vijaya L1. J Glaucoma 2010;

19: 391-397. (Invited Review) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20711029

Corresponding author: Ramesh S (optorameshgp@gmail.com): 1 Glaucoma services, Medical & Vision Research Foundation, Chennai. 2 Dept of Optometry, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal Univ

We estimate that there are approximately 11.2 million persons aged 40 years and older with glaucoma in India. An additional 28.1 million people have ocular hypertension, PACS, or PAC. Every eighth individual or nearly 40 million of the estimated 309 million people, aged 40 years or older in the country have glaucoma or are at risk of the disease. Before community-based glaucoma and detection programs are planned, it is important to ensure that those who come into contact with an eye care

professional (optometrist and ophthalmologist), for any reason, are offered a comprehensive eye examination. Sensitizing the public at large to the importance of undergoing these investigations (eg, with applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, 3-dimensional stereoscopic optic nerve evaluation, and perimetry) is probably the best way of ensuring that we as eye care providers are under pressure to follow appropriate examination techniques as a routine.

Compiled by: Nijil Sanker (Asst.Professor-Senior Grade), Dept.of Optometry, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences (MCOAHS), Manipal University (We request you to participate with great enthusiasm in providing valuable content to the research update column. Kindly mail your summary in the specified format to research.optometry@gmail.com )

A VALUABLE DONATION LOTUS TEAM in MUMBAI SLUM THE KEELER PSL INSTRUMENTThe UK based Keeler Ophthalmic Instruments is well known not only for its presence in eye care since 1917, but also for its philanthropic initiatives. One of their best known is their support for students to pursue a career in Optometry in the UK.

Mr Collin West of Keeler Instruments visited Lotus College, Mumbai and spent quality time with

the Lotus team absorbing their activities. He was particularly impressed with their work in paediatric eye care and with Lotus’ well-known outreach program in primary eye care services provided by the interns, under faculty supervision, in the slums of Mumbai. He decided to donate a Keeler PSL to Lotus. The PSL is a classic portable slit lamp,

valuable in paediatric eye care, mobile clinics and for domiciliary patients. He felt that it would add value to the existing work done by our outreach and paediatric depts. We cherish Keeler Ophthalmic Instruments for their valuable donation and solicit their support for other optometry colleges and all optometry students in India.

IVI Young Leaders ProgramIndia Vision Institute announces its Young Leaders Program (IVI-YLP) to inspire youngsters towards leadership roles for excellence in eye-care delivery. India has one of the largest populations of avoidably blind and visually impaired.. Young leaders have a significant role to play. The program will provide participants, early in their career, a holistic view of the eye-care scenario in India and abroad; help develop leadership skills; enhance career prospects; provide mentoring and networking. This 1 yr program comprises upto five 2-day workshops at IVI, Hyderabad and other Indian locations; local field visits; mentorship with experts; and a project to be completed. The workshops will cover a range of topics including leadership & management; leading change; creativity & ‘out of

the box’ thinking; social enterprise; corporate social responsibility; communication & presentation; sustainability & resource management; community health & eye-care delivery; and related areas. Download YLP brochure and application form from www.indiavisioninstitute.org The last date for application: Friday, 15 March 2013

Faculty Support ProgramIVI announces a Faculty Support Program for optometry educators in India. Presently it is offered to educators in Eastern India. Grant upto INR 15,000 each would be provided on merit to 2 select faculty from emerging optometry schools. It’s an opportunity for optometry faculty to get first-hand experience in a core optometry specialty subject for one to two weeks in an institution/hospital in India. Applicants are to make their own arrangements

directly with their chosen institution for training. Funding for the project is provided by Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) in association with Alcon Foundation. Download program brochure and application form from www.indiavisioninstitute.org Last date for application: Sat 30 March, 2013.

Higher Education ScholarshipsIVI welcomes applications for the 2nd round of the Lawrence & Mayo - JSW Foundation - IVI Higher Education Scholarships to Optometry professionals. Scholarships are open to optometry educators, students and practitioners to pursue PG and doctoral studies in India. Last date for application: Sat, 30 March 2013

For further information contact ivi@indiavisioninstitute.org

IVI ANNOUNCES! ‘Young Leaders’ & Faculty Support Programs, Higher Education Scholarships

become FELLOWS of ASCO (FASCO)Since inception, ASCO has only had INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS (Schools & Colleges of Optometry) and CORPORATE MEMBERS. NOW ASCO opens its portals to individual optometrists to be welcomed as ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. ASCO Associate Membership is necessary for optometrists aiming to become ASCO Fellows. Our ASSOCIATE MEMBERS can qualify as ASCO FELLOWS thru’ examination, for which they will be guided by ASCO. The membership fee for ASCO ASSOCIATE MEMBERS is Rs 1,000/- only, and the annual Renewal Fee is Rs 500/- only. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS can also opt for Life Membership, the one-shot fee for which is Rs 5,000/-.

ELIGIBILITY: An Associate Member is a qualified optometrist. He/She would be a practicing optometrist OR optometry faculty/administrator. He/She must obtain at least 10 hours of continuing education annually in Optometry and Vision Care.

BENEFITS to ASSOCIATE MEMBERS of ASCO:1. Listing in our directory which will be open to

public to locate suitable Optometry skills & experience

2. Regular copies of our newsletter and journal; literature on various topics of Optometry and Practice Management; Free use of our resource

library for professional growth

3. Member profiles (if agreed to by the member) will be made available to prospective employers

4. Discounted registration fees for all ASCO CMEs/COEs and ASCO conferences

5. All ASCO products (45 at present, and growing!) including professional kits at special rates.

6. Benefits of group health insurance (including immediate family)

7. Eligibility for Fellowship of ASCO (FASCO).

Keeler Ophthalmic Instruments donates a Keeler PSL, a classic portable slit lamp, to Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai

" PROSPECTIVE ASSOCIATE MEMBERS KINDLY GET YOUR APPLICATION FORM from ceo@asco-india.org, intellsouthtech@gmail.com OR download it from ASCO website www.asco-india.org "

Responding to suggestions from some of our member-colleges AS WELL AS some PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBER COLLEGES, ASCO now offers the option of LIFE-MEMBERSHIP, with immediate effect. LIFE MEMBERS can avoid payment of annual renewal fees. The one-shot fee for Life Membership is Rs ONE LAC only. Prospective member-colleges as well as existing ASCO members: Please contact Prof P Sudarshan, CEO, ASCO-India at ceo@asco-india.org OR intellsouthtech@gmail.com OR (M) +91-98454-11129 if interested in LIFE MEMBERSHIP

ANNOUNCING NOVEL SCHEME of ASSOCIATE MEMBERS of ASCO (AMASCO) who can

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Professional Ophthalmoscope• Lenses, graticules and filters available at your fingertip

• Extensive lens range (+29D to -30D in 1D steps)

• Positive Action Maywheel for easy lens access

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• Single control for rotation, convergence and divergence

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1 x 3.6 V Professional Streak Retinoscope Head,

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1 x Mini Charger, 1 x Case

BECOME a MEMBER of ASCO: BENEFITS to MEMBER-COLLEGES & CORPORATE MEMBERS:* Total hand-holding to upgrade: Syllabus/

Curriculum, Indian Entry Level Competency Skills, Faculty Training, Providing Quality Faculty for every subject, Infrastructure Mapping and Gap Filling, Equipping labs and other infrastructure,

* Workshops/Seminars/Symposia/Training Courses

• Global and National Networking in optometry/eye care, indirect membership of global bodies like WCO where ASCO is a member, Linkages with global universities

• Student fairs/fests,WOD & WSD • Research & Publications, Scholarships AND,

ADVOCACY….ALL that a member institution can ask for!

� LV, BV, CL Clinics Projects: Ist priority for Training plus equipping your clinics: NO COST to YOUR COLLEGE!

� ALL COEs of ASCO: PRIORITY for registering your nominees (Register early, due to limited seats) AND DISCOUNT on REGN fees (Register more candidates and benefit more!)

� Your Ads in INSIGHT & ASCO website: Discount for members (take repeat ads, 1 yr, ½ Yr for even better discounts)

� Bulk orders for ASCO’s optometry products:

Discounts for member colleges on ALL 45 products (and growing!)

� *DISCOUNT OFFERS & SPECIAL OFFERS through INSIGHT: MANY are EXCLUSIVELY for MEMBER COLLEGES • Portable Optometry Kits for faculty, fellows, post-graduates and for BV & LV specialization at lowest prices with installment payments

PRIORITY for MEMBER COLLEGES: * Scholarships for higher studies abroad* ADMISSIONS: Providing best candidates

PLACEMENTS: Arranging best internships and permanent jobs thru’ ASCO’s extensive Corporate Network in India & Abroad

* Promotion of your courses & colleges (in INSIGHT, ASCO website, meetings, other fora)

* CONSULTANCY/ADVISORY SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL HAND-HOLDING

BENEFITS to CORPORATE MEMBERS of ASCO:  OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS are Companies (eg Optical Chains, Eye care Industries, Optometry Eqpt. Mfrs.) They derive multi-fold benefits in HRD, including recruitment & training of their optometrists & opticians; in business development and national/international professional expert connectivity PLUS commercial benefits. Some specific benefits are:- PARTICIPATION in ALL ASCO board meetings/

special meetings (voting rights excluded vide

ASCO constitution- PRIORITY in Campus (& off-campus) recruitment

of interns AND graduates/post-graduates from our rapidly growing list of member colleges across India

- PRIORITY for customized training of Company’s optometrists, opticians, other professionals (in COEs, Workshops/shops, etc)

- PUBLICITY in ALL ASCO promotional activities, INSIGHT, ASCO website. Attractive discounts for Ads

- SELECTIVE PROMOTION of the products/services of Corporate Members

- SELECTIVE PREFERENCE to your products & services in ASCO’s National/Regional projects, such as establishment of 30 Low Vision Clinics across India, BV Clinics, CL Clinics; hundreds of low-cost high quality portable optometry kits for students, faculty, fellows and for BV, LV Specialization

- ATTRACTIVE DISCOUNTS on ASCO’s promotional products for Optometrists (see illustrated display in this issue; ALSO in ASCO website). 45 products and growing!

- HOLISTIC view of the national & international scenario in Optometry and Vision Care, Optometry Education

(ELSEWHERE IN THIS ISSUE, ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP IN ASCO)

ASCO is the sole association for Optometry Schools & Colleges in India. There are about 140 degree granting Optometry Colleges in the country. ASCO carries out numerous projects to standardize & raise quality levels of optometry education, also providing training for faculty and for practicing optometrists.

Very recently colloquia on ASCO & its various projects along with expert panel discussions on ‘Optometry Education-Status & the Way Ahead’ were held at the Netradhama School of Optometry, B’lore; the Univ of Hyderabad, Al Salama in North Kerala and Vasan Eye Instt, Coimbatore for Optometry Educators & Decision makers of the respective states. All Optometry colleges in Karnataka and AP participated in B’lore & Hyderabad. A large number of Optometry colleges in North Kerala & the Coimbatore region participated there. Such Colloquia are now scheduled in Mumbai & Pune; later in the other regions.

India has the world’s largest blind & visually impaired population. With 1/6th the global population (nearly 1.3 billion), we have a quarter of the world’s blind! Much of this burden is actually ‘avoidable blindness’!

Optometrists are the first resort to patients for consultation, refraction, diagnoses and referral (if necessary), for further treatment/surgery. The chronic shortage of optometry graduates in India is causing serious concern despite the sizable no. of colleges and inspite of the highest annual growth in entry-level salaries (~20% pa) compared to all other BSc courses! In recent years there has been furious growth in corporate optical chains

like TITAN Eye, RELIANCE Vision Express, VASAN Eye Care, LAWRENCE & MAYO, GKB Opticals, VISION 360, etc., etc., each with hundreds of stores, demanding qualified optometrists, further accentuating the shortage. There has been extensive growth in Eye Hospitals (incl. tertiary Hospitals) & Clinics, needing optometrists, not getting the numbers & quality they are looking for.

This gap can be bridged early only by a multi-pronged approach: A. filling empty seats in optometry colleges; B. introducing bridge courses to transform many among the vast numbers of diploma optometrists into graduates vide LATERAL ENTRY, and; C. by setting up new, modern optometry colleges with attachment to Eye Hospitals. However, the quality of Optometry Education in India has to be simultaneously raised to match international standards.

Through its numerous projects of a developmental nature, ASCO is upgrading the levels of our colleges.They include Infrastructure Mapping of Indian Optometry Colleges, development of Common Minimum Optometry Curriculum (CMOC) & ‘Indian Entry Level Optometry Skills’ (IELOCS) standards for BSc as well as Masters, Low Vision, Binocular Vision, Contact Lens Clinics Kits with trained educators in Colleges, COEs and Faculty training programs; better admissions & Placements for graduates/post-graduates, Portable Optometry Kits for Students, faculty, BV & LV fellows, Forum for colleges & students for their views (‘INSIGHT’, ASCO’s bimonthly newsletter), Rating & ranking of Colleges, helping them to get accreditation thru’ the newly formed Optometry Council of India (OCI), etc.

The major Infrastructure Mapping project covering more than 50 optometry colleges in all regions, enabled ASCO to structure its priorities and projects in a focused manner.

In the area of clinics/centers in our colleges, the main lacunae turned out to be in Low Vision, followed by Binocular Vision & Contact Lens. Accordingly ASCO initiated a low vision training program for faculty followed by grant of LV Clinic kits to the respective colleges. A similar program for B V faculty training will be held in Gurgaon, Pune, B’lore, Kolkata. A CL faculty training program will follow.

ASCO works closely with international bodies like the World Council of Optometry (WCO), ICEE, SightSavers, BHVI, AND prominent National bodies such as the IOF, OCI, IOA, IVI, to progress its mission.

ASCO’s members are Optometry Colleges in India. It has a couple of Corporate members (w/o voting rights). The Electorate, all member-colleges, elects the Governing body comprising President, VP, Treasurer & Secretary….ALL Optometrists! It appoints a full-time CEO. ASCO has opened membership to ‘Associate Members’, individual Optometrists, who will there be eligible to become ASCO Fellows by examination.

To commemorate WOD (World Optometry Day) and bring colleges, students and optometrists from different institutions together, celebrations with seminars, contests, eye camps, etc will be held in Ahmedabad in the West, B’lore in the South, Gurgaon in the North, Kolkata in the East and Guwahati in the North East, between March 22 to 29. (Please see articles in LV Clinics Project and WOD in this issue)

ASCO & ITS PROJECTS

PATTERN of OPTOMETRY PRACTICE in INDIA: ONLINE SURVEYOptometry has emerged as the primary eye care profession responding to the universal need for quality, accessible eye & vision care.

According to an ASCO estimate more than 120 optometry colleges in India currently offer the 4-year BSc or B.Optom degree course 10% of them offer the Masters program. Each year about 1200-1500 optometrists graduate from these institutions. They have numerous opportunities, specialties and a wide variety of job/self-employment profiles to choose from. For the first time in India, to provide an overview of the practice activities of optometrists, we are conducting an online survey: "Pattern

of Optometry Practice in India." As you are an optometrist with a bachelor's degree, your inputs are very important to this study.

Completion of the survey is expected to take about 10 - 20 minutes of your valuable time depending on the optometric services you provide. Please read the instructions given on the top of every page of the survey carefully. In case you leave the survey half way, the responses will be saved automatically in the system. On returning to the survey, you can continue from where you left. However, it is important that you use the same computer every time to avoid conflict of IP address.

There are no known or anticipated risks to participation in this study. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Further, all information you provide will be kept confidential. There could be serious interest somewhere in the country in the unique services you can render with your special skills and experience. Such opportunities will first be referred to you. Please proceed to take the survey if you agree to participate in this study. Here’s the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FBHBZL2 Feel free to contact me for any clarification: Prof Nilesh Thite nilesh_thite@yahoo.com

Aim of the event:Amity Medical School - School of Optometry, Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon (Manesar), organized an academic meet titled “Recent Advances in Optometry” on December 12, 2012 at the Institute of Public Health Auditorium, Sector 44, Gurgaon. The meet was primarily focused as a continuing education program for optometry students, but also open to practicing optometrist in the North India region. Eminent national and international experts in the field of eye care delivered talks in their expertise areas to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants. Around 170 practicing optometrists(including members from IOA (Indian optometry Association ), DOA (Delhi optometric association) and IOF (Indian Optometrist federation) and students of various colleges, including many from ASCO registered colleges in Delhi NCR and regions like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh attended the seminar.

Bausch & Lomb was the main sponsor of the event and it was also supported by Alcon ,Optomed, Ocutech , Akriti , Purecon , Optique, Care group and Essilor.

Inauguration : Chief Guest: Dr. N.K. Aggarwal, Deputy Director, National Society for Prevention of Blindness program, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was the chief guest for the event. He spoke briefly about the program, one of the primary aims of which is to bring down the avoidable blindness to 0.3% in India by 2020. Addressing the optometry community at large, he emphasized on their role in public health, and motivated them to play a larger role in community and primary eye care.

Prof. Sanjay P. Zodpey, who is a Medical Scientist, Public Health Specialist, and Epidemiologist and currently works as Director, Public Health Education, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), New Delhi was the Guest of Honor and highlighted the issues related to public health in the country and the role of eye care professionals in the community.

Ms. Vrinda Arora, Programme Manager, VISION 2020 – INDIA spoke briefly on the constitution of Vision 2020 program at the Global and National levels in prevention of avoidable blindness.

Lt. Gen Narayan Chatterjee(Retd), Advisor - PHFI addressed the participants in the post-lunch session.

Senior Management team of Amity University (Dr. R.C.Sharma, VC / Dr. Padmakali Banerjee, Pro-VC / Dr. Ajit Nagpal, Chairman-Board of Governors RBMF / Dr. Maj. Gen. Mahaveer Director AMS / Director Events / Deputy Dean, Prof. Monica Chaudry and other senior faculty members) and the Guest of Honor released the event souvenir.

One of the highlights of the seminar was the launch of AMITY’S MISSION TO ELIMINATE PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS. Strategies will be laid down by AMITY university in this direction to achieve the goal of the mission launched on this Day.

Speakers: Scientific Session Dr. Amit Mathur, Consultant, Omni Eye & Vision from Canada started the seminar with the keynote address on optometrists role in eye care, how optometry would be best suited to tackle the non surgical avoidable blindness issues, by giving examples of the Canadian optometric model. He presented new technical advances and philosophy of treating dry eye disease, pediatrics and practical vision therapy for all participants coupled with a discussion on LASIK.

Ms Harpreet Cheema is Operations Director at Ocutech, US and also the chairperson of the Low Vision Division Marketing Committee at Vision Council of America. She informed all about the latest in Bioptic Telescopes by Ocutech, who is one of the leading manufacturers of bioptic telescopes for the visually impaired. She also made a live-demonstration of the device onstage.

Mr Nilesh Thite– Director of Educational Programs , International Association of Contact Lens Educators and In-charge School of Optometry Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed

University Medical College, Pune briefed all on the CURRENT TRENDS IN CONTACT LENS PRACTICE. He also presented data on Indian contact lens market survey.

Dr Sandeep Bhalla, Public Health Specialist and Program Manager - Certificate Course in Evidence Based Diabetes Management PHFI , educated the audience on Role of Optometrist in Management of Diabetes. His presentation included the alarming epidemiological figures to sensitize audience on the alarming situation on Diabetes and even introduce them to the good work done by his team across the nation.

DIGITAL IMAGING IN INDIAN OPTOMETRY CLINIC-WHY & HOW" was presented by Mr Rajesh Wadhwa, Consultant Optometrist, Wadhwa Optikos. He began his talk with a demo of the fundus image taken live from the audience and give reasons of its need in optometric clinic like in early detection of Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, Hypertensive retinopathy which are the major detectable anomalie. He highlighted the advantages of non-mydriatic element in optometric practices.

To cover the Recent advances in Spectacles the main speaker was Mr. Kulbhushan from ESSILOR . He educated all on the latest recommendation in spectacle lenses and dispensing the benefits and features of the products best for recommendation .

REFRACTIVE SURGERY - What's new? : RIGHT OR WRONG? Was the panel session at the end of the day . The panelists were Dr Hitender Ahooja, cornea consultant Ahooja eye hospital and Dr. Arin Chatterjee and Prof. Monica chaudhry. The discussion was interaction and Question answers with the goal to bring together the whole group in understanding the refractive procedures.

Prof. Monica Chaudhry & Dr. Maj. Gen. Mahaveer presented the vote of thanks and appreciation to all the speakers and the industry for their kind support towards education.

REGIONS REPORTING-NORTH- “Recent advances in Optometry “12th December 2012, Sehgal Foundation Auditorium, IRRAD, Gurgaon Department of Optometry, Amity Medical School, Amity University Haryana

MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS for Ads in INSIGHT (height in cm x width in cm): INSIDE PAGE-FULL:27.7 x 19; LAST PAGE-FULL:29.7 x 21 + 5mm Bleed; DOUBLE SPREAD (2 INSIDE PAGES):27.7 x 40; ANY ½ PAGE: 13 x 19; ANY ¼ PAGE: 6.5 x 19; OR 13 x 9; STRIP:3 x 19; OR 13 x 4.25 (Ad material is preferred in the following formats: 1. Photoshop; 2. Corel draw; 3. InDesign; 4. Illustrator; 5. High-resolution, curved PDF) RATES: Full page in inside pages : Rs 10,000/-; Last page : Rs 12,000/-; Half Page in inside pages : Rs 6,000/-; ½ Page In front or last page: Rs 7,500/-; Quarter page in inside pages: Rs 4,000/-; ¼ Page In front/last page: Rs 5,000/-; Strip in inside pages: Rs 2,500/-; In front or last page: Rs 3,000/- (12.36% service tax is charged) DISCOUNT for ASCO members:10%; Discount for REPEAT Ads: YEARLY(6 issues)10% reduction; HALF-YEARLY (3 issues) 5% reduction.; For contracts longer than 1 YEAR, further concessions will apply: Please discuss with ASCO asap. ASCO reserves the right to edit any material sent, or even reject the ad, if required to protect readers from any objectionable or inappropriate matter.AD

VERT

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A ‘WIN-WIN’ to our READERS from INSIGHT : WE’LL PUBLISH YOUR SMALL INSERTIONS!Dear Friends of ASCO & INSIGHT!Your response to INSIGHT, ASCO’s herald, since its inaugural issue in June 2012, really gladdens our hearts! We wish to maintain its high standard and quality, its proactive push for enhancing the coverage, caliber and quality of optometry education and training in India…….in fact, to raise the bar constantly and cross international standards with speed ! ASCO wants to make each of you, student, faculty, practitioner, institution, company, PROUD of your roles & accomplishments!

Your feedback to INSIGHT, whether critical, practical or laudatory, inspires us to strive, to yearn, to seek AND NOT to YIELD! Do give us your reactions, suggestions, your warmth! We are determined to maintain the versatility, holism, friendliness, utility

& value of INSIGHT. Soon, responding to your demands, dear readers, we hope to make this newsletter of yours, a MONTHLY!

TODAY HOWEVER we are barely breaking even…….ASCO has been financially supporting INSIGHT, its offshoot, generously since June 2012! Our sole source of income is from the limited number of corporate Ads we secured. We are indebted to these advertisers (Sterling Group, Baliwalla & Homi, Fine Vision, GANKO, OPTOMED) and hope they have been rewarded! To break-even, to enhance our coverage, to increase the frequency, we surely require more resources. We’re certainly not keen to make our beloved readers subscribe to INSIGHT. On the other hand we wish to multiply our readership across the student community, the faculty, practicing optometrists, friends of optometry in India & abroad. [Send us their email ids and they’ll get INSIGHT w/o fail].

So here’s a WIN-WIN!:- SEND us small insertions-a few lines with/without photos/images on ANY topic that interests you/your college-mates/colleagues, ANY professional need you wish to broadcast, ANY professional capability, unique, exceptional or otherwise that you want to highlight, ANY view you want to share…………….AND SEE FOR YOURSELF the OVERWHELMING RESPONSE YOU GET! It can be a game changer! Send us your small insertion ASAP to catch the next issue! Please send it with a nominal insertion fee of Rs 500/-.

MAKE INSIGHT YOURS! YOUR FRIEND in NEED, INDEED !(Regular articles to INSIGHT are welcome from authors. INSIGHT hopes to be able to reward its authors!)

DELIGHTFUL PRODUCTS for OPTOMETRISTS

MOMENTOS l GIFTS l PRIZES l UTILITARIAN ITEMS UNIQUE, EXQUISITE, DURABLE, AFFORDABLE, NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH!

(EVERY RUPEE EARNED GOES TO OPTOMETRY EDUCATION IN INDIA)

L104–Leather Key Chain-INR 175/-

C103–Ceramic Beer Mug–INR 400/- J106–Wine Bag INR 250/-

C102–Ceramic Coffee Mug-INR 300/-C101–Ceramic Coffee Mug–INR 300/-

L101–Leather Vertical Spectacle case with button–INR 350/-

L102–Leather Horizontal Spectacle case with button–INR 350/-

L03-LeatherVertical Specs case with flap–INR 350/-

J102–Small Carry Bag Jute–INR 75/-

T108–Gents Tshirt Hands (black)–INR 450/-

J103–Medium carry bag Jute with Eye Design INR 100/-

T105- Bib–I Love INR 250/-BIB–I Know What Organic Cotton T103. INR 250/-

T113 & T112-Kids Tshirt 7yrs Yellow–INR 380/-

J113 Fine Jute Conference Folder INR 350/-

T102 (3 yrs)- White INR 350/-T112 (7 years) - Black INR 350/-

Hand Crafted leather Folder L106, INR 600/-

ORDER ONLINE from our website www.asco-india.org OR vide email to ceo@asco-india.org OR by post to ASCO-India, 43 AMRUT KESHAV NAIK Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001

Discount on Orders 5% above Rs 10,000/-

7.5% above Rs. 50, 000/-10% above Rs. 100,000/-

L105–Leather pen- stand–INR 350 P10-Paper pen stand–INR 280 CANE AND COTTON LADIES BAGJ112 INR 500/-

FINE JUTE CONFERENCE FOLDERJ110 INR 350/-

A102-OPTOM APRON INR 350/- per pc.

A105-CAR STICKERINR30/- per pc.

A104-MOUSE PADINR 50/- per pc

J107-Black College Bag INR 475/-

A106-BIKE STICKER INR15/- per pc.

PEN WITH STRING A111INR15/- per pc.

COFFEE MUG A109INR 180/- per pc.

A108 OPTOM NAMEPLATE INR160/- with name INR 130/- without name

A103-capINR 90/- per pc.

A107-OPTOM OATHINR75/- per pc.

PEN WITH JOTTER REFILL A110INR25/- per pc.

A101-T SHIRT with COLLARINR 330/- per pc

T116 – Gents T-shirt (red)–INR 450/-T114-Ladies T-shirt–INR 450/-T109-Ladies T-shirt (red)–INR 450 [also in green T111 & grey T115]

T110 Gents T-shirt (black)–INR 450/-

J105–Blue Ladies Bag INR 400 LADIES BAG Fine Jute LadiesCollege Bag J109 INR 1200/-

J101–Ladies Bag with hand design and inner pocket – INR 425/-

J108–Fine Jute Cream College Bag–INR 500/- J111-Jute Ladies Bag Green-INR 350/-

43 Amrut Keshav Naik Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001Tel: 022-22012358, Fax: 022-22070048 www.asco-india.org

43 Amrut Keshav Naik Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400001. Tel: 022-22012358 | Fax: 022-22070048

From ASCO

TEAM ASCO: President: Vivek Mendonsa vivekm@asco-india.org; Vice President: Aditya Goyal vpresident@asco-india.org, adityagoyal@hotmail.com; Hon. Secretary: Ramesh S Ve ramesh.sve@manipal.edu, optoramesh_gp@yahoo.com; Treasurer: Prema Chande treasurer@asco-india.org, premachande@hotmail.com; CEO: Prof P Sudarshan ceo@asco-india.org, intellsouthtech@gmail.com; NORTH REP: Monica Chaudhry monica.rchaudhry@gmail.com; NOIDA: Bhupesh Chanana bhupeshchanana1@rediffmail.com; Punjab: Preethi Pradhan preethi@chitkara.edu.in; UP: Imran Ahmad Ansari imranoptom@gmail.com; WEST REP: Veshal Madan dypopts@gmail.com; Maharashtra: Komal Chaurasia komal.chaurasia@rediffmail.com; Mumbai: Hiral Korani hiralkorani@gmail.com; Pune: Mahadev Shegunashi optomdev@gmail.com; Gujarat: Nirav Mehta nirmehta2020@yahoo.co.in; Ahmedabad: Usman Memon usmmemon@yahoo.co.in; CENTRAL REP: Ashok Shivhare optometry11@yahoo.com; MP: Anitha anitha2001arvind@gmail.com; EAST REP: Soumendra Nath Ghosh soumendra.ghosh@nshm.com; NORTH EAST REP: Soujanya Mondal ridleycollegecpeh@gmail.com; SOUTH REP: Ajay Shinde seccbel@gmail.com; TN : Pamela Suresh pamela.vasaninstitute@gmail.com; Chennai: Jayarajini Vasanth harshrajvas@yahoo.com; Karnataka: Ramesh S Ve optoramesh_gp@yahoo.com; Bangalore: R Diwakar dot_diwakar@yahoo.co.in; Dr Rishi Bhardwaj, Vice Principal, Netradhama School of Optometry, Bangalore dr.rishi.bhardwaj@gmail.com AP: Kiran Challa kiranopt@gmail.com; Kerala: Md Kunhi kmk@live.in; NATIONAL REPS: Yogita Rajgandhi optomyogita@rediffmail.com & Jayanta Bhattacharjee bjayanta@rediffmail.com

Ms Aditi Moghe, M.Optom(Asst Prof ) Bharati Vidyapeeth School of Optometry presented a scientific paper on "INCIDENCE OF CLINICAL & SUBCLINICAL CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA IN DIABETIC & NON-DIABETIC PATIENTS AFTER CATARACT SURGERY BY MEANS OF OCT" in the annual meeting and conference of American Academy of Optometry which was held from 23-27 Oct 2012 at Phoenix USA.

Mr Nilesh Thite presented a poster on “CONTACT LENS PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN INDIA-2011” & Mr Nagraju Konda (BVP alumnus) won the grand prize in

anterior segment photography.

Mr Chinmay Deshpande M.Optom (Asst Prof ) Bharati Vidyapeeth School of Optometry won the best scientific poster award at ACION 3rd Annual Conference & International Assembly of Community Ophthalmologists, held at PBMA’s H.V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune on 3rd November 2012.

The ASCO Family heartily congratulates faculty of BVP

14th Convocation of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed Univ was held on 28th Dec 2012. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Health & Family Welfare was a chief guest. Twenty nine B. Optom & eight M. Optom students were awarded degrees.

REGIONS REPORTING: WESTVA

CAN

CIES

Sr Program Manager: Job Opportunity: IVI is currently looking for a Senior Program Manager for posting in Hyderabad. The candidate should be an optometry graduate or a public health professional with over six years of work experience, preferably in the retail sector. Project management, presentation and communication skills would be an added advantage. Interested candidates may forward their resumes to: niranjan.yenamala@indiavisioninstitute.org

Faculty Positions: for B.Sc Optometry Course (i)Visual optics (II) Optometric optics (III) Clinical Examination of Visual system & Instruments. Full-time or as Visiting Faculty. CONTACT IMMEDIATELY: Suji K Chandran, Course Co-ordinator, Academics , Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital, Palakkad, Kerala; Email: adminasst@ahalia.edu.in

OPTOMETRISTS: Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai is seeking qualified Optometrists for its branches across Chennai. Candidates will be given training in all areas of Optometry and a chance for them to upgrade themselves as well. Candidates who are interested to apply can write to us at viswa@snmail.org Jothi Balaji J, Lecturer - Elite School of Optometry; Manager-Dept of e-Learning & Multimedia, Medical Research Foundation, 18 College Rd, Chennai -600 006 Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance Ph: +91-44-42271855 +91-44-42271855 [Dir] 81440-21885; Fax: +91-44-28274180 Web: www.ekalavya.org and www.sankaranethralaya.org

VASAN Instt. of OPTOMETRY, COIMBATORE requires urgently a masters in optometry for full-time appointment. Contact pamela@vasaninstitute@gmail.com

A. Primary Kit (for students in 2nd & 3rd yrs of Bachelors courses):1. Lens racks/Pedals in + and - powers. These would

be portable and handy in screenings too2. Trial frame, Set of direct ophthalmoscope head,

retinoscope head & transiluminator with a single rechargeable battery handle (with MEM cards)

3. Jackson cc (cross cylinder), IPD rule, PD stick Gulden stick with letters & pictures (for adults & kids on the same stick), Pen torch, Occluder

4. Distant & near charts (foldable, convenient to carry)5. DV & NV cards in a back lit stand (it has a number

of charts & is small, handy and very portable)6. A CD prepared by ASCO which comprising

handbook of Optometry, conversion tables,

Model Eye, diagnostic drugs - their dosages oft used formulas etc

B. Advanced kit (for faculty & senior students/interns)

In addition to the basic kit items 1 to 10 above1. Trial box , Color vision plates (screening),

Gonioscope (4 mirror), Gonio lens, 90/78D (condensing lens)

2. Hand held slit lamp attachment which fits on the battery handle & has the filters

C. BINOCULAR VISION KIT:In addition to the basic kit items, BV kit would have:1. Prism bars2. Accommodative & vergence flippers, Loose

prism set, Pediatric trial frame, Maddox rod with a

translucent occluder on the other side

D. LOW VISION KIT:In addition to the basic kit items, LV kit would have:1. Hand magnifiers (different powers), Telescopes

(different powers)2. High-add reading glasses (different powers)3. Non optical aids - typoscope, signature cards etcThe above kits are to be supplied in small sturdy kit cases (eg a brief case or a hard but small attache case) and not back packs etc. The idea is that the student/practitioner can carry the kit anywhere along with him/her.Kits should have ASCO logo printed on them. Kit can also have an apron & a name plate with the name, affiliations and qualifications printed. 

THESE PORTABLE KITS OF HIGH QUALITY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE(PRESENTLY ONLY TO MEMBER COLLEGES AT THE WORLD'S LOWEST PRICES AND WITH INSTALMENT PAYMENTS. HOW MANY OF EACH DOES YOUR COLLEGE NEED?)

ASCO acknowledges support from India Vision Institute, Brien Holden Vision Institute,‘Optometry Giving Sight’ and Sight Savers