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Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Department

ORBIS–Drashti Netralaya Child Eye Care Centre

Transforming Children's Vision, Transforming Lives

Book an Appointment Call Us+91 99090 08838
Child receiving a pediatric eye examination at Drashti Netralaya

The Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Department at Drashti Netralaya is one of the leading child eye care centres serving Western India. Established with the vision of preventing childhood blindness and ensuring that every child reaches their full visual potential, the department provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and family-centered eye care services for children from birth to 18 years of age.

The department is further strengthened through the ORBIS–Drashti Netralaya Child Eye Care Centre, developed in partnership with ORBIS International, one of the world's leading organizations dedicated to eliminating avoidable blindness. This collaboration has enabled the development of advanced pediatric eye care services, professional training programs, community outreach initiatives, and childhood blindness prevention strategies across a large underserved population.

Our Mission

To eliminate avoidable childhood blindness through early detection, timely intervention, advanced treatment, community outreach, education, and research.

Pediatric eye assessment at Drashti Netralaya

Why Pediatric Eye Care Matters

Vision plays a crucial role in a child's physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development. Nearly 80% of visual development occurs during the first few years of life. Untreated eye diseases during childhood may lead to permanent visual impairment, learning difficulties, reduced academic performance, and lifelong disability.

Many childhood eye disorders can be successfully treated if detected early.

The Pediatric Ophthalmology Department is dedicated to ensuring that children receive specialized eye care during these critical years of visual development.

ORBIS–Drashti Netralaya Child Eye Care Centre

The ORBIS–Drashti Netralaya Child Eye Care Centre serves as a regional centre of excellence for pediatric ophthalmology, childhood blindness prevention, professional training, and community outreach.

The centre provides:

  • Comprehensive pediatric eye care
  • Specialized pediatric surgeries
  • Childhood blindness prevention programs
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity services
  • Pediatric trauma management
  • Professional capacity building
  • School eye health programs
  • Community awareness initiatives
Child-friendly pediatric eye care consultation room at Drashti Netralaya

Regional Coverage Across 17 Districts

The department serves as a tertiary referral centre covering approximately 17 districts across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

Gujarat

  • Dahod
  • Panchmahal
  • Mahisagar
  • Chhota Udepur
  • Vadodara
  • Anand
  • Kheda

Rajasthan

  • Banswara
  • Dungarpur
  • Pratapgarh
  • Udaipur

Madhya Pradesh

  • Jhabua
  • Alirajpur
  • Dhar
  • Badwani
  • Ratlam
  • Indore

This catchment area covers a population exceeding 12 million people, with a substantial proportion belonging to tribal and underserved communities.

Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Care Services

Pediatric Eye Examination

Specialized age-appropriate evaluation techniques are utilized for infants, toddlers, school-going children, and adolescents.

Services include:

  • Newborn eye screening
  • Infant vision assessment
  • Pediatric visual acuity testing
  • Cycloplegic refraction
  • Binocular vision assessment
  • Ocular motility evaluation
  • Color vision assessment
  • Developmental vision evaluation

Refractive Error Services

Management of:

  • Myopia
  • Hyperopia
  • Astigmatism
  • Anisometropia

Services include:

  • Comprehensive refraction
  • Pediatric spectacle prescription
  • Myopia control counseling
  • Long-term follow-up

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) Services

Amblyopia is one of the most common causes of preventable visual impairment in children.

Services Include

  • Early diagnosis
  • Spectacle correction
  • Occlusion (patching) therapy
  • Atropine penalization
  • Orthoptic exercises
  • Binocular vision therapy

Advanced Amblyopia Rehabilitation

The department has actively contributed to research and innovation in amblyopia management, including advanced binocular visual stimulation techniques and digital vision rehabilitation strategies aimed at improving visual outcomes in children and young adults.

Strabismus (Squint) Services

Comprehensive evaluation and management of:

  • Esotropia
  • Exotropia
  • Vertical deviations
  • Paralytic squint
  • Sensory squint
  • Post-traumatic strabismus

Evaluation Includes

  • Ocular alignment testing
  • Binocular vision assessment
  • Stereopsis evaluation
  • Extraocular muscle analysis

Strabismus Surgery

Advanced squint surgery is performed for both children and adults.

Benefits include:

  • Improved ocular alignment
  • Better binocular vision
  • Improved stereopsis
  • Enhanced psychosocial development
  • Improved quality of life

Pediatric Cataract Services

The department provides comprehensive management of:

  • Congenital cataract
  • Developmental cataract
  • Traumatic cataract
  • Complicated pediatric cataract

Services include:

  • Early diagnosis
  • Surgical planning
  • Pediatric cataract surgery
  • Primary and secondary IOL implantation
  • Long-term visual rehabilitation

Postoperative care focuses heavily on amblyopia prevention and visual development.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Services

ROP is a major cause of childhood blindness among premature infants.

Services include:

  • ROP screening
  • Digital retinal imaging
  • Laser photocoagulation
  • Anti-VEGF treatment
  • Long-term retinal monitoring

The department works closely with neonatal intensive care units to ensure timely screening and treatment.

Pediatric Glaucoma Services

Specialized management of:

  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Developmental glaucoma
  • Secondary pediatric glaucoma

Services include:

  • Examination under anesthesia
  • Medical management
  • Surgical intervention
  • Lifelong monitoring

Pediatric Cornea Services

Management of:

  • Corneal infections
  • Corneal scars
  • Keratoconus
  • Congenital corneal anomalies
  • Ocular surface disorders

Pediatric Oculoplasty Services

Management of:

  • Congenital ptosis
  • Nasolacrimal duct obstruction
  • Eyelid malformations
  • Orbital disorders
  • Facial trauma

Procedures include:

  • Ptosis correction
  • Lacrimal surgeries
  • Eyelid reconstruction

Pediatric Ocular Trauma Services

Drashti Netralaya is internationally recognized for its contributions to ocular trauma research and management.

Dedicated pediatric trauma services include:

  • Open globe injury repair
  • Closed globe injury management
  • Traumatic cataract surgery
  • Intraocular foreign body removal
  • Post-traumatic endophthalmitis management
  • Complex ocular reconstruction

The institution has published some of India's largest studies on pediatric ocular trauma and traumatic cataract.

Examination Under Anesthesia (EUA)

Comprehensive examination under anesthesia is available for children who cannot be adequately examined in the outpatient setting.

Indications include:

  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Congenital cataract
  • Retinal disorders
  • Complex ocular anomalies

Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation Services

Children with irreversible visual impairment receive:

  • Low vision assessment
  • Optical and non-optical aids
  • Educational counseling
  • School integration support
  • Family counseling

School Eye Health Programme

The ORBIS–Drashti Netralaya Child Eye Care Centre conducts extensive school eye health activities across the region.

Activities

  • Vision screening
  • Spectacle distribution
  • Teacher training
  • Eye health education
  • Referral services

Objectives

  • Early detection of refractive errors
  • Prevention of amblyopia
  • Reduction of school-related visual disability

Community Outreach and Childhood Blindness Prevention

Special outreach programmes target:

  • Tribal communities
  • Rural populations
  • Government schools
  • Anganwadi centres
  • Primary healthcare facilities

Awareness programs focus on:

  • Childhood blindness prevention
  • Early eye examination
  • Importance of spectacle compliance
  • Recognition of squint and cataract
  • Early referral of high-risk children

Training and Capacity Building

The department serves as a regional training hub for:

  • Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellows
  • DNB Residents
  • Ophthalmologists
  • Optometrists
  • Vision Technicians
  • Ophthalmic Nurses
  • Community Health Workers

Training programs emphasize:

  • Pediatric examination skills
  • Strabismus management
  • Childhood blindness prevention
  • Pediatric surgery
  • ROP screening and treatment

Research and Academic Excellence

The Pediatric Ophthalmology Department actively participates in clinical research and innovation.

Major research areas include:

  • Childhood blindness
  • Amblyopia
  • Strabismus
  • Pediatric cataract
  • Pediatric ocular trauma
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity
  • Vision rehabilitation

The department regularly presents research at national and international conferences and contributes to peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Key Strengths of the Department

  • ORBIS-supported Child Eye Care Centre
  • Coverage across 17 districts in three states
  • Comprehensive pediatric eye care under one roof
  • Advanced pediatric surgical services
  • Dedicated childhood blindness prevention programs
  • School eye health initiatives
  • Pediatric trauma expertise
  • ROP screening and treatment services
  • Fellowship and residency training programs
  • Strong research and academic output
  • Extensive tribal and rural outreach network

Impact

The ORBIS–Drashti Netralaya Child Eye Care Centre has transformed access to pediatric eye care for millions of children across Western India. Through clinical excellence, community outreach, professional training, and research, the department continues to play a vital role in reducing childhood blindness and visual disability among underserved populations.

Our Commitment

At Drashti Netralaya, every child deserves the opportunity to see, learn, grow, and succeed. Through compassionate care, advanced technology, specialized expertise, and community engagement, we remain committed to protecting and restoring vision during the most important years of life.

Motto
"Every Child Deserves the Gift of Sight."
"Healthy Vision Today, Bright Futures Tomorrow."
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