Australian Consulate General in Chennai will provide replacement glasses for members of socio-economically disadvantaged communities who lost their glasses when Cyclone Hudhud hit the Visakhapatnam coast on October 12 last year.

Those who were affected can have their vision screened free of cost at the Out-patient Department of LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI)'s campus here, a hospital spokesman said on Saturday.

Under the programme, 3,000 free spectacles will be given to those who lost their own during the cyclone or might have developed eye disorders in its aftermath.

This is supported through a grant from the Australian Consulate and will be implemented by India Vision Institute (IVI)-a joint initiative of the LVPEI of Hyderabad and Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney.

“The scale of devastation caused by Hudhud was enormous. Good vision is fundamental to a person realising their economic potential, so helping people see clearly will ensure that they are able to rebuild their lives quickly in the aftermath of the cyclone,” said Sean Kelly, Australian Consul-General to South India.

“LVPEI collaborated with Australia for over 25 five years and I am delighted that Australia through its Direct Assistance Program (DAP) can contribute 3,000 pairs of glasses to people who have lost their glasses because of Hudhud" said, LVPEI Chairman Dr.G.N. Rao.

The Australian Consulate General is also supporting IVI to conduct vision screening programmes for socially disadvantaged school children around Chennai and seven cities in South India, including Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

IVI is focused on supporting and promoting awareness, research, education and technological development in Indian optometry to advance capacity in vision correction and prevention of blindness.

Source: TH