General Info

The Department of Ophthalmology

"The Department of Ophthalmology started functioning from the time of inception of JIPMER. Prof. Mishra was the first Head of the department, but it was Prof N.N. Sood who gave a facelift to the department. In 1984, the department was named as “Upgraded Department of Ophthalmology” and specialty clinics like retina, cornea and glaucoma clinics were established under the headship of Professor PA Lamba. Professor Mathew Krishnan took up the reign after him till 1989. The department was the first among government hospitals in South India to procure and start phacoemulsification surgeries in 1996 during the tenure of Professor Vasudev Anand Rao and Professor Renuka Srinivasan who were the main pillars of the department for a long time. Presently there are 8 faculties comprising three Professors, one Additional Professor, two Associate Professors and two Assistant Professors. They are assisted by a senior refractionist, two optometrists, orthoptist and an ophthalmic assistant. At any time there are 25-30 residents doing postgraduation and 4-6 senior residents in the department.

Our vision:

Our triple goal is to provide comprehensive, high-quality, and state-of-the-art eye care, structured training for undergraduates and postgraduates and carrying out clinical research.

Facilities available

The outpatient department functions on all days of the week along with specialty clinics designated on specific days.  An average of 150 patients are seen per day in the OPD. A dedicated team of residents and consultants is available round the clock to cater to ocular emergencies. Modern equipment with cutting-edge technology such as slit lamps biomicroscopes, optical biometer (IOL master 700), Humphrey automated perimetry, imaging technologies such as mydriatic and non-mydriatic fundus cameras (Clarus 700 ultra-widefield fundus camera), Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (Cirrus HD), Corneal topography (Oculyser and Topolyser), Ultrasound AB scan and ultrasound biomicroscopy help in providing high quality patient care.

The Ophthalmology operation theatre has 3 OT tables with high-end Zeiss operating microscopes and state-of-the-art equipments which help doctors in training and faculty to perform surgeries with precision and ease. Annually about 2500 major and 4000 minor surgical procedures are performed. Among the surgeries performed intraocular surgeries include cataract surgery such as advanced Phacoemulsification, manual small incision cataract surgery and conventional ECCE, glaucoma surgery such as Goniotomy, trabeculotomy, trabeculectomy, augmented trabeculectomy with MMC, glaucoma drainage devices and retinal surgeries such as pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckling and corneal surgeries such as keratoplasties. The extraocular surgeries include squint, oculoplasty, and orbital surgeries.

The laser room in OPD and Ward 24 houses various types of lasers such as Multispot laser (Zeiss), Nd YAG, Green (double frequency YAG) (532 nm) laser, portable green laser, red laser (Quantel) for retinal photocoagulation for retinovascular disorders including diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation. Nd YAG laser (YAG and SLT combo 507 Twinstar - 1064 nm) is used for iridotomies, capsulotomies as well as for Selective laser trabeculoplasty in the treatment of glaucoma. Red laser is also used for cyclodestructive procedures.

Barraquer Refractive laser  centre is a popular service in the department functioning from May 2021.  JIPMER is only the fourth Government institute in India to acquire the excimer laser (Wavelight EX500, Alcon) and is used  for doing LASIK (Laser in Situ keratomileusis), TransPRK (Photrefractive Keratectomy) and PTK (Phototherapeutic keratectomy). These procedures are done as daycare at very nominal charges (Rs 10,000/- to Rs 16,000/-) to the patient.

The JIPMER eye bank (Zirm eye bank) is the oldest Eye Bank of Puducherry and is recognized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Govt. of India. (EBAI membership no.:INST-L_789, dated 11/11/1996) This place houses a temperature monitored Lab refrigerator, Laminar Hood, eye bank specular microscope and functions round the clock. The HCRP (Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme) for procurement of eyes from donors is very active and on an average 75 pairs of eyes are collected annually. We have a dedicated grief counsellor for this. All records related to this programme are well maintained and we receive recurring Grant-in-Aid from NPCB, Puducherry for eye collection. It has successfully carried out several corneal transplant surgeries over the years and continues the good work providing vision to the corneal blind.

The outreach programmes and screening camps help to screen patients for potentially blinding ocular diseases like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degenerations with the help of non-mydriatic fundus camera, non-contact tonometer, and slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy which are transported to the field.

JAANA (JIPMER Alumni Association of  North America) has made a significant contribution to the department of Ophthalmology in getting some of the state-of-the–art equipments like Ultra-widefield fundus camera, Spectral Domain OCT, Visual Electrophysiology Unit, Zeiss surgical microscope, Red Laser, Essilor Autolensedger, Photo Slitlamp etc. These have a great role in providing high quality patient care to mainly the unaffordable.

We welcome contributions /donations of any kind to the department which will be used to improve patient care.

State of art equipment available in the department

  • Surgical Operating Microscope – Carl Zeiss – Lumera I with Wide Angle Viewing System for Retinal Surgeries - BIOM of OCULUS and RESIGHT of Carl Zeiss (2 numbers) (High end)
  • Surgical Operating Microscope, Lumera 300 (Middle order)
  • Surgical Operating Microscope - Leica - M220 F12
  • Surgical Operating Microscope- Topcon (Lower end) for Wetlab
  • Phacoemulsification Units – 5 in number (Centurion vision system, Alcon; Faros – Oertli; Visalis 100 – Carl Zeiss; Pulsar PMS - OptiKon)
  • Advanced vitrectomy systems (Faros – Oertli, Galaxy Turbo orbit, Appasamy associates)
  • Ultra-widefield fundus camera (Clarus 700, Carl Zeiss)
  • Digital Fundus Camera with Fundus Fluorescein Angiogram facility – Canon CF 1
  • Non Mydriatic Fundus Digital Camera - Cannon CR 1
  • Hand held fundus camera (Volk)
  • Cirrus (Spectral domain) Optical Coherence Tomography– Carl Zeiss
  • Optical Biometer- IOL master 700, Carl Zeiss and Lenstar-Biomedix
  • Humphrey Perimeter- 2 numbers (750i and 860i-Carl Zeiss)
  • Scheimpflug based Corneal topography (Oculyser)
  • Placido based Corneal topography (Topolyser)
  • Clinical Specular microscope - Konan Noncon Robo
  • Eye Bank Specular Microscope - Konan Eye Bank Keratoanalyser
  • Ultrasound B scan – Marvel- Appasamy associates
  • Nd YAG laser (YAG and SLT combo 507 Twinstar - 1064 nm) – Appasamy associates
  • Portable green laser (LIO), Red laser for endo &subcyclophotocoagulation (810nm)
  • Autorefractometer – 4 in number (Unicos and Potec), manual keratometer
  • Slitlamps – 12 in number (Haagstreit BQ900-5, Shin Nippon-2, Appasamy-5)
  • Digital lensometer, Synoptophore, Hess chart
  • Tonometers-Goldman applanation -8, Non-contact (Topcon CT 80)-5, Reichert Tonopen-1, Perkin’s tonometer-1, Rebound (Icare)-1)
  • Ultrasound Pachymeter (Quantel)
  • Electrophysiology unit (ERG,EOG,VEP) (Roland)
  • Cryomachine
  • Excimer laser system (Ex500, Alcon)
  • Collagen Cross Linking Unit (PXL Saphire)
  • Photoslit lamp (Zeiss, Appasamy)
  • Ocular Response Analyser (Reichert, USA)
  • Autolensedger (Essilor)

State of Art Training Facility (Dry and Wet lab)

  • Eye Si (Ophthalmic Surgical simulator) from VR Magic for Phaco and VR surgery simulation training
  • Wet Lab equipped with 3 Operating Microscopes & Optikon and Infinity Phacoemulsification Unit
  • Reti Eyes for learning Retinal Laser application
  • Model eye for Retinoscopy practice
  • Model eye for Indirect ophthalmoscopy
  • Direct Ophthalmoscopes for training undergraduate students in basic fundus examination
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Last Updated:01-Nov-2024

Last Updated :07-Nov-2024