Mobile tele-ophthalmology units for early detection and treatment of serious eye ailments among rural population

CDAC designed and constructed two Mobile Tele-Ophthalmology Units with WiMAX and KSWAN connections and commissioned one each in Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO), Trivandrum and District Hospital (DH), Palakkad. RIO has conducted 117 camps and treated 2163 rural patients since commissioning their unit on February 16, 2011. In the period from July 2011 to June 2012,158 Glauoma, 325 Diabetic Retinopathy(DR) and 167 Corneal Disease cases were detected by RIO in the camps near by the patients´ home and treated the patients. DH has conducted 14 camps and treated 893 patients since commissioning on November 10, 2012. One glaucoma and 129 Diabetic Retinopathy cases were detected in the camps conducted by DH in the rural patients´ area, Palakkad within four months from 20.11.2012 to 19.2.2013. Timely detection and treatment are essential for prevention of loss of vision. Replication of Mobile Units for service in rural areas will bring down vision loss due to Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma and other serious ailments.