This document summarizes the process for conducting cataract surgery camps in rural India through Sankara Eye Hospitals. Key details include: - Camps are held year-round in locations accessible to the poor to provide cataract screenings and surgeries. Patients undergo vision tests, medical exams, and surgery if approved. - One camp located in Salem screened over 350 patients, with 139 selected for bus transport to Sankara's base hospital in Coimbatore for surgery. - At the hospital, more in-depth medical tests are conducted before surgery. Patients receive information and consent to the procedure before undergoing cataract removal and lens implantation surgery. Post-operation care and

1. By: Arjun Patel
University Of California, Riverside
Medical Biology B.S.

2.  Cloudingof the Lens
(Colored Brown)
 Distorts
vision by
disrupting the
amount of light
entering the eye

3.  Camp’s are run all year round and are the core
for collecting and fixing Cataract problems of
the poor.
 Types of Camps
• Stay Camps
 Long Distance
 Requires Multiple Days
• Day Camps
 Travel, camp, and travel back all completed within a day.

4. A location selected within the driving range of
a Sankara Hospital
 Location is advertised by Co-Sponsors to the
local poor as a Sankara Eye Check Up
 Co-Sponsors are local organizations with close
ties with their own local community
• Donate: Food, Time, Volunteers, and a Venue for the
Camp

5.  Co-Sponsor
• Sponsors: Sri Sathya Sai Salem District
 Map
• (A) Coimbatore
• (B) Salem
• Total Distance
 164 Kilometers
 102 Miles
 2.5 Hour Drive
 Day Camp
 Total Camp Time
• 9 AM – 2 PM

6.  Patients
• 354 Screened Patients and 8 Children
• 177 Selected by Doctors for Surgery
• 143 noted as Fit enough for Surgery
• 4 dropped out
• 139 sent by Bus to the Base Hospital
 Males: 52 and One Child
 Females: 86
 Review of the Pervious Month
• 85 had Surgery July 3rd, 2010
• 75 Reviewed August 8th, 2010
• 10 Did not attend Review

7.  AlsoKnown As:
Patient Check-Up
• One Month After
Surgery
• Seen by Doctor
• Given Counseling on
Proper Care
• Given Eye Drops

8.  Fit: Patients
who pass  Unfit: Patients
who
all necessary tests to have not passed the
be cleared for fitness exam,
surgery however medicines
will be given so the
patient maybe able to
try again the
following month

9.  Eachpatient receives a registration card and
medical form which they carry with them
throughout their stay with Sankara.

10.  All
patients must take
a Vision Test.
 Used to measure
Visual Acuity of the
Patients.

11.  All
Patients meet with a
doctor to decide whether:
• Problem fixed by Surgery
• Problem fixed by Spectacles
• Or other Minor Problems

12.  IOP: Intraocular
Pressure
 Implemented on patients who are at risk for
Glaucoma.

13.  Optic Nerve damage due to increased pressure
of the eye

14.  Patients
who meet the
doctor and simply
need Spectacles,
have their vision
recorded

15.  AllPatients chosen
for surgery are told:
• What to Expect at the
Hospital
• Proper Eye Care Pre-
Surgery

16.  Lab Tests:
• Blood Sugar Levels
• Urine Test

17.  GeneralFitness Tests
Applied:
• Blood Pressure
• Health History
Checked
• Determine
Fitness

18.  Surgical Patients
• Patiently waits for
the entire camp to
be completed
• Eats lunch
• Leaves for
Coimbatore
following the end
of the Camp

19.  Tripfrom Salem to Coimbatore starts directly
after the camp.

20.  Procedure is similar  Surgical Patients
to at Camp • Admitted into Hospital
Procedure, however right away
the tests are done on • ID Cards are given
a finer scale • Information on Case
Sheets are Entered

21.  Fitness Checked on  Tokens placed on Hospital
an in depth Scale Gowns of Patients
• Urine Checked • Green – Cleared for Surgery
• ID Cards Updated • Red – Unfit (Treatment for 1-3
with Stickers as days, hope for Fit Clearance)
Warning • Blue – Must be discharged,
 Hypertension Surgery too risky
 Asthma • Black – other eye condition,
 Diabetes requires treatment before
 Etc. surgery (Infection, Glaucoma)
 Possible Treatment, if Fit Remove
Black Token

23.  Patency of Duct
 Vision Recording
 Doctor’s Eye Exam
• Black Token Determined
 Keratometry Reading
• Measures the reflection
and curvature of the
anterior surface of the
cornea

24.  Eye Lash Cutting
 Apply LA Drops
• For Dilation of Eyes
 A-Scan
• Doctor measures the eye
for a replacement lens
• Length
• Width
• Power
 After Completion Patients
Shift to Surgical Theater
• Known as Shifting
Procedure

25.  Patients are Shifted to
Surgery Waiting Area
 Patients are Dressed for
Surgery
 Patients hold their own
new Lens & case records
 Shifting staff duty
• Tally Patient Number
• Mark all other Details
 Consent signed

26.  Patients Receive
• Lindocaine
 Nerve Blocker
 Keeps the Eye Still for
Surgeons
• Cleaning of surgical
area

27.  Patient
Enters
Surgical Theater
 Length of Surgery
• 10-15 Minutes
 Old
Natural Lens
Removed
 New Synthetic Lens
Placed

28.  Completed Surgery
• Blue Gown Given
• Eye is Patched

29.  Patient sent to Intra
Operative Ward
• Recovery Stage begins
 Doctor’s Examination
of Post Operation
• Occurs twice the day
after Surgery
 Eye Drops Given
• Ready for Discharge

30.  Check All Paper  Orientation on Proper
Work Care
 Check and Distribute  Check Patient’s
Medication Location of Camp
• Pain Medication  Food Given
• Eye Drops  Place on Bus
 Doctor’s Signature  Inform Co-Sponsors
of Sankara’s Arrival to
Original Camp

31. Mrs. Boothayee is a 70 years old patient from the city of Salem.
Everyday her occupation takes her to the rice field in which she
works until sunset. She had started rice farming from the age of
17. Over the past few weeks she had been working with Cataract
in both of her eyes greatly affecting her ability to work and her
passion to sing. She would sing to neighbors and family members
just for the smile on their faces. She complained and grew sad at
the fact that she had lost the ability to see clearly, she could no
longer see those smiles. She was pushed and persuaded by her
neighbors to visit the Sankara camp in Salem. She was slightly
nervous on the bus ride to Sankara mostly because she could not
see clearly where the bus was taking her. But the second she
landed into the doors of Sankara she felt at peace. As she laid on
the operation table she felt at ease and knew that the doctors
would take care of her cataract. She now has the ability to see
clearly out of one eye, and has said adamantly that she trusts
Sankara so much she will be back promptly for her Left eye next
month.