AIIMS Bhubaneswar has launched a ‘low vision clinic’ in the department of ophthalmology to illuminate the lives of patients who have almost lost hope due to severe visual impairments.

Inaugurating the pioneering initiative, AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Dr Ashutosh Biswas said: “In a first-of-its-kind endeavour within any government institution in Odisha, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has collaborated with Dr RP Centre, AIIMS Delhi, and Cristoffel Blinden Mission (CBM), Germany, to establish this clinic. Operational daily, the clinic pledges to offer visual rehabilitation services to those in need, thereby reshaping lives and fostering a sense of empowerment.”

Emphasising the importance of regular patient follow-up and expressing gratitude to AIIMS Delhi for their support under the ‘Roshini’ project, Dr Biswas also unveiled training manuals aimed at empowering Asha workers and volunteers with essential eye care knowledge.

The one of its kind vision clinics will help a special group of patients like the socially blind and other patients having very low vision due to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, retinal diseases, and other blinding diseases.