LV Prasad Eye Institute has teamed up with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Program (CIP) at IIT Hyderabad to start a blended Master of Technology (MTech) programme in Ophthalmic Engineering.
A first-of-its-kind course in the country, the programme is aimed at blending essential elements of ophthalmic care and engineering (optics, biomechanics, and controls engineering). “The programme intends to create a pool of qualified Ophthalmic Engineers who could take up the pressing challenges in eyecare and develop technology products,” Renu John, Chair– CIP at IITH, has said.
“This unique, promising programme is expected to create professionals who can take up technology challenges in ophthalmology and build start-ups,” he added. Open to people with BTech, MBBS, MD or MS in ophthalmology degrees, this course requires students to complete 52 credits across two years, consisting of two semesters in the first year with 14 credits per semester. The last date for submitting applications is July 7. The classes will begin in August.
The third and fourth semesters require the completion of 24 credits (12 credits in each semester) by undertaking a project under the supervision of both the IITH and LVPEI teams in collaboration with the industry partners.
“Eye care is among the important areas of social interest and technological importance, and our faculty members are already working with the leading institute in the area, including LV Prasad Eye Institute. This unique programme would nurture a pool of talented ophthalmic engineers who would advance eye care,” BS Murty, Director, IITH, said.
“Eye health and good vision have profound implications on many aspects of life, health, sustainable development and the economy. Beyond affecting the quality of life, vision impairment also affects the annual global productivity loss amounting to $410·7 billion,” K Nithyanandan, Programme Coordinator of Ophthalmic Engineering, IITH, said in a statement.
“Vision problems can be effectively addressed by appropriately combining medical and technological interventions. While robust models for eye care delivery have been developed on the medical side of things, significant gaps still exist in meeting the technology side of the problem,” he said.
The master’s degree programme between LVPEI and IITH is an attempt to successfully bridge this gap and create a pool of qualified ophthalmic engineers who could take up the pressing challenges in eye care and find affordable solutions.