underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
underprivileged parents with ROP
About Balanethra
Free vision preserving laser surgery for preterm babies of underprivileged parents with ROP
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is an unrecognised yet very common cause of preventable childhood blindness. India ranks globally number one in preterm births and most of the preterm births happen in the underprivileged sections of the society due to lack of maternal nutrition and hygiene. The blindness in these babies is unrecognised and huge due to lack of awareness, lack of screening facilities and lack of adequate trained paediatric retina specialists (only 150 approximately in India).
Project Balanethra: Tender Vision encompasses free screening and vision preserving laser treatment for preterm babies from urban slums and villages in and around Chennai. In addition, awareness talks are given to the young mothers about maternal hygiene, nutrition and spacing between deliveries to avoid preterm births in the future.
This is an initiative of Radhatri Nethralaya and Gurupriya Vision Research Foundation (the public charitable trust of Radhatri Nethralaya). Over 75,000 babies were screened and 535 babies were prevented from becoming blind till now, through this project. The Rotary International, USA has recognised Radhatri Nethralaya as a centre to perform free ROP surgeries through a global grant in 2017.
- 1.4 million children under the age of 15 are blind worldwide!
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is one of the commonest causes of childhood blindness!
- We are facing the third epidemic of ROP in the world today!
- India is one among the few middle income nations having a very high incidence of ROP!
- ROP occurs in preterm babies with low birth weight!
- Treatment is by emergency Laser surgery!
- If untreated 50% of babies become permanently blind!
- There are less than 150 pediatric retina specialists trained to treat this disorder in India today!
Radhatri Nethralaya had successfully treated 143 babies with ROP in a 3 year window (2007-2010). 143 infants treated so far will contribute : 143 infants x Rs. 88,533 (per capita income) x 65 years (life expectancy) = Rs. 822,914,235 (822.9 million Rs), Approx USD 55 billion of savings to society!
The numbers in 2011 to 2017 have increased by three times, thanks to increased awareness…. But there are a lot of poor babies with no access to treatment due to the cost….
Balanethra Project aims to ensure that no baby loses vision due to lack of funds!
We solicit a nominal donation of 10,000 Rs for vision preserving laser surgery on both the eyes for a baby from poor economic background
| Year | Screening | Laser Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016-2017 | – | 83 |
| 2017-2018 | 5280 | 130 |
| 2018-2019 | 5480 | 106 |
| 2019-2020 | – | – |
| 2020-2021 | 5737 | 244 |
| 2021-2022 | 10451 | 388 |
Balanethra - Invitation
Related Projects
Gurupriya Vision Research Foundation
Radhatri Nethralaya (RN) is a 16 year-old NABH accredited super speciality tertiary eye care hospital in T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. At RN, we provide international standards of best medical and surgical eye care, with compassion and sensitivity to our patient’s needs, irrespective of socio-economic background. Our Public Charitable trust, Gurupriya Vision Research Foundation (GVRF) was launched in 2009, in keeping with this philosophy to ensure free eye care to the needy.
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