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Allied Ophthalmic Paramedics

Overview

Certified Ophthalmic Paramedics (COPs) for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOPs) program is specifically designed to train young women from underprivileged backgrounds, with the aim of improving the quality of ophthalmic services. We focus on training the AOPs to develop the necessary skills and empower them to effectively identify, screen, support, supplement, and streamline clinical workloads. By doing so, they contribute in boosting productivity, assisting ophthalmologists and other healthcare professionals, and ultimately enhancing patient care in a cost-effective manner and thereby contribute towards reduction of avoidable blindness in their area.

Who We Are

At SCEH, the AOP training program at Jyotirgamaya is a comprehensive two-year course designed to foster gender equality and empower women. The program focuses on developing eye care skills, computer skills, English language proficiency, and “Life Skill Education”through a well-structured curriculum to ensure the holistic development of the trainees.

Aligned with 10 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, this programme exemplifies our commitment to achieving  global targets. The success and expansion of the program is attributed to the unwavering support of donor partners, whose vital contributions  have played a crucial role in its development and growth.

Key Facts & Figures

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The AOP program has experienced consistent growth since its inception, reflecting its journey of progress. As part of our strategic plan, SCEH aims to create 500 AOPs annually. Through this program, SCEH is committed to providing young women with opportunities for decent work and livelihood. Moreover, the program strives to empower these women by equipping them with effective communication and job-related skills, enabling them to embark on a path towards economic independence with confidence and resilience.

Our Team

Dr. Parul
Dr. Parul Datta
Director Anesthesia, Director COP - SCEH Network
Ms. Sunita Arora
Assistant General Manager and Training Lead, Patient Educator
Ms. Renu
Training Lead, Vision Technician
Ms. Zeenie
Training Lead, Medical Record and Health Information Technician
Sister Rani
Training Lead, OT Technician
Sister Praveen
Training Lead, OT Technician
Sister Alice
Training Lead, OT Technician

Diagnosis & Treatment

The clinic evaluates and treats patients with cornea and external eye diseases. State-of-the-art diagnostic facilities include corneal topography (Orbscan IIz & Pentacam), meibomography, AS-OCT, specular microscopy, ultrasonic pachymetry, and cmicroscopy. Refractive surgery performed in the department includes Femto assisted LASIK, Microkeratome based LASIK and Photorefractive Keratectomy.

Conditions We Treat

We treat a wide variety of corneal infections due to microbes like bacteria, virus, and fungus. A corneal infection can cause a perforation in the cornea if left unchecked, or can lead to a corneal opacity. We have the whole armamentarium of medical and surgical treatments available to cure them and rehabilitate in case an opacity develops.

A corneal opacity is the whiteness on the transparent cornea that decreases vision when present in the center and is cosmetically unsightly. We perform corneal transplant surgery to improve vision in case of central corneal opacities and perform colouring of the opacity called tattooing when the indication is cosmesis.

Corneal ectasias is where the shape of the cornea changes due to progressive thinning. We provide treatment for halting the progression as well as correcting the vision.

From a farmer who suffered an injury while working in the field, to an acid victim, to children with thermal burns, we see such stories everyday in our clinics. We are equipped with manpower and willpower to bring them back to normal life and help them see better with their eyes.

We have specialists to deal with uneven unsightly corneas affected from diseases like Steven Johnson Syndrome, Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid, chemical burns and offer the latest stem cell based therapies and eyelid skin grafting procedures to such patients.

Our eye surgeons have become among the most trusted experts in refractive surgeries, having performed countless successful procedures over the course of their career—and helping patients get an improved “outlook on life”.

Routinely performed procedures

  • Corneal Transplantation
  • Penetrating Keratoplasty (Optical / Therapeutic / Tectonic / Cosmetic)
  • Lameller Keratoplasty (DSAEK / DSEK / DMEK / DALK)
    • Amniotic Membrane Transplantation
    • Pterygium Surgery with Fibrin Glue
    • Ocular Trauma Management
    • Refractive Laser Surgery (LASIK) and Wave Front Guided Customized LASIK / PRK and FEMTO LASIK Surgery
    • Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation
    • Management of Conjunctival Tumours
    • Keratoprosthesis
    • Ocular Surface Reconstructive Surgeries
    • Rose K Contact Lenses and Collagen Cross Linking with Riboflavin (C3R) for Keratoconus Patients
    • Corneal Tattooing
cornea-pic

Other Facilities

Eye banking services

Contact Lens Centre

Success Stories

OUR EDUCATION, PUBLICATIONS & RESEARCH FIGURES (2022)​

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Selection of Candidates

The potential candidates are identified through multiple  channels, including distributing pamphlets at outreach camps or engaging community mobilizers to  contact prospective students through local NGOs and other CBOs. The selection criteria for the program included the following:

The selection process begins with an aptitude test followed by the interview process using a set of questions to assess the student’s suitability for the program. Additionally, discussions with the parents are done to gain insight into their aspirations and expectations. To ensure inclusivity, preference is given to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring inclusivity across all centers.

Throughout the two-year training, we prioritize individual attention for each candidate to bring out their best potential. We conduct regular assessments objectively to evaluate their progress and development.

Courses Offered- It is a two years training program that offers four streams under the AOP banner. Post foundation training, students are segregated into one of the streams based on their aptitude and capabilities for further hands-on training for remaining period:

  1. Ophthalmic Assistant
  2. Vision Technician
  3. Ophthalmic Counselor
  4. Medical Record Assistant

RESEARCH

File Size 4.92 MB

MAJOR PUBLICATIONS

  • Three Consecutive Cases of Ocular Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) Toxicity Due to Compounding Error.

    Patel, N.V., Mathur, U., Sawant, S., Acharya, M., Gandhi, A. and Sawant Sr, S., 2023. Three Consecutive Cases of Ocular Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) Toxicity Due to Compounding Error. Cureus, 15(5).
  • Single-Staged Surgical Correction of Eyelid Sequelae Along With Lid Margin Mucous Membrane Grafting in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Other Cicatricial Ocular Surface Diseases.

    Shree, N., Das, S., Arya, D., Srivastava, A., Singh, A. and Sangwan, V., 2023. Single-staged surgical correction of eyelid sequelae along with lid margin mucous membrane grafting in Stevens–Johnson syndrome and other cicatricial ocular surface diseases. Cornea, 42(4), pp.404-411.
  • Management of cataract in dry eye disease: Preferred practice pattern guidelines.

    Donthineni, P.R., Deshmukh, R., Ramamurthy, C., Sangwan, V.S., Mehta, J.S. and Basu, S., 2023. Management of cataract in dry eye disease: Preferred practice pattern guidelines. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 71(4), pp.1364-1372.
  • Leveraging neural crest pluripotency to extend retinal and craniofacial niches for building neurovascular organoids—a theranostic and drug development perspective.

    Sharma, M., Jangra, S., Dhiman, S., Yangzes, S., Tiwari, A., Patro, S.K., Sharma, K., Rathore, S., Ramavat, A.S., Chhabra, S. Sangwan VS, and Panigrahi, I., 2023. Leveraging neural crest pluripotency to extend retinal and craniofacial niches for building neurovascular organoids—a theranostic and drug development perspective. In The Eye (pp. 55-118). Academic Press.
  • A rare case of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome following trabeculectomy in a pediatric patient. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.

    Johri, T. and Dubey, S., 2023. A rare case of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome following trabeculectomy in a pediatric patient. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology-Case Reports, 3(2), pp.364-367.
  • Role of Binocular Vision Therapy for Spasm of Near Reflex (SNR): A Case Report

    Sharma, P., Singh, P.K. and Ganesh, S., 2023. Role of Binocular Vision Therapy for Spasm of Near Reflex (SNR): A Case Report. J Ophthal Ocu Therap. (JOOT)
  • Bilateral Apogeotropic Lateral Canal BPPV: Role of Secondary Signs of Lateralization in Diagnosis

    Kumar, S., Gupta, N., Dorasala, S. et al I Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
  • The impact of oral and systemic medications on the eye.

    Sabherwal, S. and Mohamed-Ahmed, A.H., 2023. The impact of oral and systemic medications on the eye. Community eye health, 36(118), p.14.
  • A goat eye, wet lab model for training in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.

    Gupta, N., Bhogal, M., Vaddavalli, P.K., Boldini, A., Semeraro, F., Varshney, A. and Romano, V., 2023. A goat eye, wet lab model for training in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 71(5), pp.2230-2233.
  • Giant facial congenital melanocytic nevus associated with conjunctival melanoma.

    Shree, N., Gandhi, A. and Das, S., 2023. Giant facial congenital melanocytic nevus associated with conjunctival melanoma. Orbit, pp.1-4.
  • Evaluation of dry eyes in children with vernal kerato-conjunctivitis using clinical tests and ocular surface analysis.

    Gupta, S., Rahman, M., Tibrewal, S., Gaur, A., Ganesh, S. and Sangwan, V.S., 2023. Evaluation of dry eyes in children with vernal kerato-conjunctivitis using clinical tests and ocular surface analysis. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 71(4), pp.1488-1494.
  • An unusual complication after cataract surgery may suggest the possibility of underlying rhino-orbital mucormycosis

    Gupta N. | Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan;71(1):310-311. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1506_22. PMID: 36588264
  • Efficacy and safety of 0.05% micellar nano-particulate (MNP) cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion in the treatment of moderate-to-severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca: a 12-week, multicenter, randomized, active-controlled trial

    Rao AT, Gupta A, Chauhan T, Basu S, Batra N, Sharma N, Sangwan VS, Gupta V,Mukherjee S I BMC Ophthalmol. 2023 Mar 27;23(1):121. doi:10.1186/s12886-023-02838-z.
  • Managing chronic inflammation in ocular sequelae of Stevens Johnson Syndrome to restore vision

    Gupta N, Singh G, Bashir H, Sangwan V, Mathur U I Ocul Surf. 2023 Jan 27:S1542-0124(23)00014-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.01.008. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36717075
  • Endoscopic Management of Severe Ocular Symptoms Secondary to the Missed Paranasal Sinus Mucoceles.Springer Nature Chapter in Video Atlas

    Gupta, N I doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9712-9
  • Corneal stem cells niche and homeostasis impacts in regenerative medicine; concise review

    Tavakkoli F, Eleiwa TK, Elhusseiny AM, Damala M, Rai AK, Cheraqpour K, Ansari MH, Doroudian M, H Keshel S, Soleimani M, Djalilian AR, Sangwan VS, Singh V I Eur J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan 5:11206721221150065. doi: 10.1177/11206721221150065. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36604831
  • Herpes simplex viral keratitis - A mixed bag of challenging case scenarios

    Singh A, Acharya M I Indian J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2023;3:58-60.
  • Endoscopic Management of Severe Ocular Symptoms Secondary to the Missed Paranasal Sinus Mucoceles.Springer Nature Chapter in Video Atlas.2023 Jan

    Gupta, N I doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9712-9
  • Corneal stem cells niche and homeostasis impacts in regenerative medicine; concise review

    Tavakkoli F, Eleiwa TK, Elhusseiny AM, Damala M, Rai AK, Cheraqpour K, Ansari MH, Doroudian M, H Keshel S, Soleimani M, Djalilian AR, Sangwan VS, Singh V I Eur J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan 5:11206721221150065. doi: 10.1177/11206721221150065. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36604831
  • Commentary: Precision - The hallmark of refractive surgery

    Singh A, Acharya M | Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan;71(1):69. doi: 10.4103 | ijo.IJO_2256_22. PMID: 36588210
  • Herpes simplex viral keratitis - A mixed bag of challenging case scenarios

    Singh A, Acharya M I Indian J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2023;3:58-60

RESEARCH

Community Eye Health Journal- South Asia Edition, 2018, Competency Based assessment as a reliable skill building strategy for allied ophthalmic personnel Disability Inclusive Eye Care, 2023, CBM

Projects

LiQd Cornea- Supported by Pandorum

The aim of the project is to design a bio-engineered bio-material which can be used as a liquid drop instead of a conventional corneal transplant: the immediate indication for liquid cornea is neurotrophic keratitis, macular to leucomatous corneal scars, keratoconus, corneal perforations, persistent epithelial defects etc.

PED study project - Funded by DST grant

The main objective of the project is to test the expression of KLF4 in persistent corneal epithelial defects (PCED) and correlating with the disease severity and KLF4 knockdown in corneal epithelial cells recapitulate PCED pathology and can be rescued by overexpressing KLF4                                                                                       

Why SCEH

At SCEH, the AOP training stands out as a transformative opportunity for aspiring individuals. It is focused on providing a comprehensive training with adequate exposure to the various departments in the hospital.

It has led to empowerment of these young women and with their contributions we are able to make a difference to the care of our patients.

For more queries on cornea eye treatment or corneal transplant surgery in Delhi and north India, contact us at +91-11- 4352 4444.