Helping kids see

Prof (Dr) Keiki R. Mehta was presented the Dr Om Parkash Award for dual intraocular lens cataract surgery in children below one year of age at the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) congress held in Cochin from February 2 to 5, 2012. The AIOS is the largest ophthalmic society in India and its congress is the second largest eye meet in the world. Mehta received the award at the hands of Dr Ramchandran Thek­kedath, an accomplished scientist and technology expert who is the vice chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology, as per information sent to Parsiana via e-mail by Luciano Gomes.

Dr Keiki Mehta (r) receiving award from Dr Ramchandran Thekkedath

Mehta, the surgical chief and medical director of Mehta International Eye Institute in Bombay, has done pioneering research on a new technology for cataracts in children which prevents the development of amplyopia or "lazy eye” which causes a fall in vision. This latest technology has now been adopted internationally as a valid and effective treatment for children, as per the e-mail. The Mehta International Eye Institute is affiliated with the ONO Clinique de l’Oeil (Eye Institute) in Geneva, Switzerland and St Luke’s Eye Institute in Texas, USA.