About the Department:

The department of Ophthalmology, AIIMS Bhubaneswar was created on 15^th April 2013 with two faculty members ( Dr. Anusha Venkataraman and Dr. Sucheta Parija). The outpatient department started functioning from 15^th May 2013 catering to a 25-30 patients daily. The patient flow increased and hence three sub-speciality clinics started functioning three days a week in the afternoon (2;00-4:30 pm) : Retina (Tuesday), Glaucoma (Thursday), Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and Oculoplasty (Monday). The surgical services started from 30^th January 2014 and the routine phacoemulsification surgery  for cataracts started regularly twice a week from  March 2014. The Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) program started on regular basis from January 2017 and has been successful in detecting in early detection and management of the disease in preterm infants. The department had all the basic equipment’s for comprehensive eyecare services catering to the patients of Odisha and its neighbouring states in eastern part of India.

 Further, the community eyecare services started once a month  at CHC, Tangi and Mendhasala, Khurdha district from July 2013. The department has been working with CMFM department to conduct screening camps in the villages to detect cataract blind patients, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy cases. School screening program for detection of childhood blindness was further strengthened as a project mode in coordination with the Govt of Odisha from 2015-2017.  All the cataract patients are provided free cataract surgeries and rehabilitation with spectacles at AIIMS Bhubaneswar since then. OPD services at Balasore satellite centre is conducted every month.  Awareness programs on ocular diseases for masses and healthcare workers are conducted regularly. Rural undergraduate and postgraduate  training is also conducted on rotation basis.

 

Under the RBSKY program which started on 14^th November 2016, the congenital cataract blind children of Odisha were operated and rehabilitated successfully. All children with ocular diseases are treated free of cost under this program.

 

Research and Teaching has been an integral part of the department since its inception. The first MBBS teaching program started from the year 2014 and continues till date. The first batch of Postgraduates were admitted on 2^nd July 2018. Two students are selected to pursue the M.S. Ophthalmology degree course yearly. There are 3 extramural and 10 intramural funded and nonfunded research projects along with 5 PG thesis work  going on in the department. The faculties and residents  at the department have demonstrated their knowledge and skills by winning various awards at various meets/conferences/seminars.

 

The department has progressed and witnessed many reforms to achieve its goal towards being the Centre of Excellence in eyecare services in India. At present the department has four faculty members, three Ophthalmic Assistants, seven Senior residents and four Junior residents. All modern equipment’s starting from Humphrey Visual field analyzer, Optical Coherence tomography, Fundus and fluorescein Angiography, Green Lasers and YAG Lasers and Lenstar machine are available for quality eyecare services.

 

The institute has excellent support facilities, modular operating theatres, Central sterilization services, well equipped Microbiology and Pathological services as well as radiotherapy and medical oncology facilities. Thus, the department has joined hands with the medical oncology department for care of ocular cancers especially chemotherapy and radiation therapy of Retinoblastoma cases. All diabetic patients are screened for detecting diabetic retinopathy and treated with laser photocoagulation and intra-vitreal anti VEGF injections to prevent blindness. Further, the Hospital Corneal Retrival Program was started on 21 February with Dhristi Dann Eye Bank, LVP Eye institute for collection and storage of cornea for corneal transplantation.

Each year the department is striving to reach its goal with expert and experienced faculties and other team members adding new facilities, diagnostics, research activities, teaching and community services.

Message from Head of the Department:

The future of Ophthalmology lies in its quality patient care, innovative teaching and research. The theme of our department is the Pursuit for Excellence be it in patient care, research  or as mentors of the  future Ophthalmologists. We have dedicated faculties and true supporting staff along with enthusiastic senior residents and brilliant junior residents who work as a team for patient care. We also support, teach and mentor the undergraduates and junior residents and expect them to be future leaders, innovators and role models in their careers. Our mission is to decrease the burden of blindness by providing quality medical and surgical care. We are providing subspeciality care with state of art technology and newer diagnostics in few such as glaucoma, retina, strabismus , neurophthalmology and are in the process of adding uvea and surgical retina in the new future. Our research activities are strengthening with ongoing collaborative projects with physicians and scientists in areas of basic and clinical science.

Welcome to the departmental website. Hope you will enjoy meeting our faculties as you explore this website.

Major Achievements

• The post-graduation course started in July 2018 for the first batch who have passed out in June 2021 after finishing their three years tenures. The academic junior residency programme is continuing with its full strength.
• The department is actively involved in  both the intramural research project and extramural research projects conducted by the faculties. Collaborate research with NISER Bhubaneswar is ongoing on Epigenetic basis of Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma.
• Various academic programmes like guest lectures, CMEs held regularly for up-gradation of current knowledge. Notable among is “PHACO SUMMIT 2019” in March 2019 with the participation of eminent speakers from across the country. Another program on “Pearls of Cataract Surgery- Basics to Advanced” on Virtual mode was conducted as a National CME on 29^th August 2020 with all the AIIMS faculty and AIOS President as the Guest Speaker was a great success with 780 participates.
• Various national programmes and international programmes like World Glaucoma week, Retinoblastoma week, World Sight day, Myopia week are celebrated regularly every year.
• Community programmes like Reach in camp under national prevention of control of blindness programme (NPCB), cataract surgeries, camp at satellite centre, Balasore held regularly for the people of the state, and outreach experiences among resident doctors.
• Inter-institutional CME/Workshop has been arranged for better surgical skill and learning. The “Cadaveric workshop on Strabismus and Cranial nerves “ was held in the Anatomy Hall on 2-3^rd July 2016 and another “International cadaveric workshop for oculoplastic surgeons on 7^th December 2019” by AIIMS Bhubaneswar and LVPEI Bhubaneswar.
• Department is catering to the  ocular  services of the children under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) since 2016 for various ocular surgeries free of cost for prevention of blindness. This program was inaugurated by Dr. Gitanjali (Director AIIMS Bhubaneswar and Mrs Shalini Pandit, Director NRMH on 14^th November 2016.
• A MoU signed with Drishti Dann Eye Bank, LVPI Bhubaneswar on 11^th February 2020 for Hospital Corneal Retrieval Program (HCRP) for corneal collection from AIIMS Bhubaneswar for corneal transplantation.
• Department has procured various latest machines like Humphrey visual field analyser, latest Laser machines both for the anterior and posterior segment, and some advanced equipment are under procurement process.
• Participation in a National survey i.e rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAV) survey in Khurda district of Odisha with the collaboration of Dr R.P.Center, AIIMS Delhi in the month of February 2021.

Special Clinics/ Laboratories/Interest/Course:

Apart from routine OPD, IPD and OT procedures, special clinics such as Glaucoma clinic, Pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, Diabetic retinopathy screening clinic and ROP screening activity held every week.

Sub-Speciality Clinics in Ophthalmology:

1. Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus and Neurophthalmology
2. Glaucoma Clinic : Thursday
3. Retina Clinic:         Friday
4. ROP Screening:     Wednesday

Research Areas:

There are 3 Extramural projects, 2 Intramural projects and 14 intramural nonfunded projects and 7 thesis and 1 STS project has been undertaken by the department.

Funded Projects:

1.Name of PI: Dr. Sucheta Parija

Title: Epigenetic Regulation in the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and Glaucoma

Funding: 20 lakhs

Collaboration: NISER Bhubaneswar

IEC: T/EMF/Ophthal/19/41

2. Name of the principal investigator: Dr Sandip Kumar Sahu 

Title of the project: A Study of clinical and laboratory markers to describe the outcome of prematurity with respect to development of Retinopathy of Prematurity in preterm and/or low birth weight newborns at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.”

Funding agency: AIIMS Bhubaneswar intramural project

Duration: 2 years

start year: 2018

Funds: Rs. 50,000

IEC approval number: IMF/20/2018.

Departmental:

Ongoing :

1. Title of the project: Visual outcome of Toric IOL in cataract patients with low astigmatism

Name of the principal investigator: Dr. Sucheta Parija

Duration:2 years; start 2019; funds : Nil

IEC approval number : T/IM-NF/Ophthal/19/81

2. Title of the project.: Study of the Refractive Changes And Ocular Biometrics In Preterm And Term Infants. (PG Thesis)

Name of the principal investigator : Dr. Sucheta Parija

Funding agency: AIIMS Bhubaneswar

Duration :2 years, start year: 2018                      Funds: Nil

IEC approval number: IEC/AIIMS BBSR/PG Thesis/2018-19/29

3.Title of the project: Study Of Ganglion Cell Complex And Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer In Perichiasmatic Brain Tumor Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

Name of the principal investigator : Dr. Sucheta Parija

Funding agency: AIIMS Bhubaneswar

Duration :2 years, start year: 2018 Funds: nil

IEC approval number: IEC/AIIMS BBSR/PG Thesis/2018-19/30

4.Title of the project.: “Long Term Visual Outcome Of Bilateral Paediatric Cataract

Patients Treated with Lens Aspiration And IOL Implantation In Eastern India”

Name of the principal investigator : Dr. Sucheta Parija

Funding agency: AIIMS Bhubaneswar

Duration :2 years, start year: 2019 Funds: Nil

IEC approval number:IEC/AIIMS BBSR/PG Thesis/2019-20/23

5.Title of the project.: “Study Of Ocular Changes In Psoriasis Patients With Psoriasis Severity Index More Than 10 In Eastern India: A Prospective Observational Study”

Name of the principal investigator : Dr. Sucheta Parija ; Funding agency: AIIMS Bhubaneswar ; Duration :2 years, start year: 2019 Funds: Nil

IEC approval number:IEC/AIIMS BBSR/PG Thesis/2019-20/22

6.Title of the Project: “Clinical profile and management outcome of patients with secondary glaucoma: A prospective longitudinal study” as the post graduate thesis work.

Principal investigator. Dr Bhagabat Nayak

       Name of the candidate: Dr Bhumija Bhatt                    

      10. PG Student:

1. Current:    5

1.Dr Anjali Kharolia

2.Dr. Ashna Gupta

3.  Dr.  Bhumija Bhatt,

4.Dr. Genicksen Jeyram

5. Dr.Shyamsunder S

2. Alumni:     2  (1^st Batch of JR academics; July 2018 Batch)-

1. Dr. Koyel Chakraborty
2.  Dr. Ravi Kumar

2. Major Activities:

1. Various national programmes and international programmes like World Glaucoma week, Retinoblastoma week, World Sight day, Myopia week are celebrated regularly every year.

2.Faculties and residents attend various national and international conferences regularly for the research talk, invited lecture, paper and poster presentation and have won prizes also in various categories.

           3. Mentoring of Postgraduates and Senior residents in Clinical, Surgical, and research activities.

          4. Phacofest 2020 National level CME organized by AIIMS BBSR with all five new AIIMS and AIIMS New Delhi on “Practical tips on cataract surgery-Basics to advanced”

5. Basics of Phacodynamics workshop for residents was organized on 25.9.2020 and 26.9.2020 for learning the dynamics of phacoemulsification and the machine on a online mode.

6. Faculties, resident doctors, nursing officers, technicians and other staff celebrate any social festival like HOLI, New Year in every possible way to bring harmony and unity in the department.