Track 1: Ophthalmology and Optometry

Ophthalmology is a branch of science that deals with the treatment and diagnosis of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are qualified to care for all eye problems and conditions. Eye surgeries are usually performed on the eye or its adnexa by an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is responsible for choosing the correct surgical procedure for the treating a patient. Optometry is also a health care profession that focus on examining the eyes for any defects or abnormalities. Traditionally, the world of optometry originated with the primary focus of modifying refractive error through the use of spectacles. Modern-day optometry, however, has advanced through time to include significant training within the diagnosis and management of ocular disease.

• Cornea
• Glaucoma
• Refractive surgery
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Ocular oncology
• Clinical ophthalmology
• Oculoplastics
• Ophthalmic pathology
• Paediatric ophthalmology/strabismus

Tracks 2: Neuro-Ophthalmology

Neuro-ophthalmology is an amalgamation of neurology and ophthalmology. The nero-ophthalmologist is in charge for the diagnosis and treatment of complex systemic nervous diseases that affect, eye movements, alignment, vision and pupillary reflexes. Eye diseases treated by a neuro-ophthalmologist.

• Squint or Strabismus
• Toxic or Nutritional optic neuropathy
• Papilledema
• Optic neuritis

Tracks 3:  Eye Diseases

Many eye diseases, and age related changes affect the eyes and surrounding structures. Globally, 2.2 billion people are suffering with eye diseases and visual impairment. Reduction in pupil size and the loss of accommodation or focusing capability are the most important changes observed. Ocular diseases can even arise from sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes and genital warts. Globally, the leading reasons of vision impairment are:

• Uncorrected refractive errors
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Cataract
• Trachoma
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Corneal opacity
• Thyroid eye diseases
• Autoimmune diseases
• Genetic eye diseases
• Ocular autoimmune diseases

Track 4: Pediatric and Geriatric Ophthalmology

Nearly 5 lakh children become blind every year. Children experience a very distinct variety of eye problems, compared to adults. A Pediatric ophthalmologists work on the improving the vision and the treat various diseases that disrupt visual development in children. Pediatric ophthalmologists are specially trained to manage the disorders like: Conjunctivitis, Strabismus, Amblyopia, Blocked tear ducts, Ptosis, Retinopathy of prematurity, nystagmus, Visual inattention, Pediatric cataracts, Pediatric glaucoma, Genetic disorders, Orbital tumours, Congenital malformations. The Geriatric ophthalmology deals with general and ocular physiological changes that occur due to ageing, clinical approach in geriatric patients, common geriatric ocular diseases, spectacle dispensing aspects in ageing patients and pharmacological aspects of ageing. About 82% of people aged 50 years and above are blind. Therefore visual impairment is important problem in elderly. If the visual disturbance is left untreated it leads to increase in the incidence of falls, depression, social isolation and dependency. Ophthalmological problems:

• Childhood malignancies
• Conjunctivitis
• Nystagmus
• Blepharitis
• Entropion/Ectropion
• Pterygium
• Amblyopia
• Corneal ulcer or keratitis
• Corneal degeneration
• Corneal dystrophy

Track 5: Veterinary Eye Care

Veterinary vision is an ophthalmic practice providing attention for animal’s eye vision. The veterinarians take care of dogs, cats and other small animals including rabbits, chinchillas, birds and reptiles, horses and other farm animals. Some veterinary eye diseases are:

• Entropion
• Corneal ulcer
• Corneal dystrophy
• Glaucoma
• Retinal detachment

Track 6: Corneal Disorders and Treatment

The eye is a sensitive and fragile tissue and each part of an eye functions in its own way to maintain its normal vision.  The transparent part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber is cornea. Issues such as corneal ulceration, epithelial keratitis & drug-induced epithelial keratitis, corneal regeneration, recurrent corneal erosion, and miscellaneous corneal disorders can disturb the cornea and eventually lead to peripheral eye disease that might end up with permanent blindness. Therefore, examination of corneal disease is carried out to mitigate the disease, and methods like contact lenses & vision correction are also used to cure vision-related problems. A surgical process like corneal transplantation is used to transplant the cornea. The cornea and focal point of the eye are worked to focus light on the retina. When light strikes the cornea and it twists or refracts the light approaching onto the focal point. The focal point transfers that light onto the retina, which initiates the interpretation of light into vision. The retina changes the light into electrical driving forces that go through the optic nerve to the mind, which translates them as pictures.

• Corneal ulceration
• Corneal transplantation
• Corneal anaplastology (prosthesis)
• Corneal neovascularization
• Corneal degeneration

Track 7: Retina and its Disorders

Retina is a small layer of tissue within back mass of your eye. It comprises a huge number of light-delicate cells and other nerve cells that acquire and put together visual data. Retina sends this information to your cerebrum through the optic nerve, permitting to see.  Clinical ophthalmology specifies the responsibilities of eye practitioner and it also covers the broad spectrum of research and plays a crucial in screening, diagnosis and therapeutics to treat eye illness. The focal zone of the retina comprises of a highly thick shading delicate photoreceptor cells called cones which are responsible of shading vision and thus any malformation and alteration in the focal territory of the retina will lead to colour vision imperfections. Disorders like diabetic retinopathy and retinal tumors and other specific eye disease can similarly be responsible of the lasting vision misfortune in the event that it is not treated on time. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a retinal degenerative sickness that causes loss of focal vision. Some retinal sicknesses are inherent, static hemeralopia and diffuse yellow or blurry shade of the fundus. Following 2 or 3 hours in all out cloudiness, the typical shade of the fundus returns.

•  Retinal vasculitis
•  Retinal tumors
•  Retinal transplant
•  Retinal detachment
•  Retinopathy of prematurity ophthalmologic approach
•  Retina and retinal Surgery

Track 8: Pathophysiology of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition where the optic nerve is damaged due to an increase in the intraocular pressure. The pathophysiology of glaucoma is the intraocular pressure in the eye increases if there is no proper trabecular outflow of aqueous humor. There are two types of glaucoma: Primary open-angle glaucoma (no proper drainage of eye fluids), Angle-closure glaucoma (iris very close to drainage angle). Various glaucoma surgery procedures are:

• Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT)
• Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
• Laser Peripheral Iridotomy (LPI)
• Cyclophotocoagulation
• Trabeculectomy
• Drainage implant surgery and Electrocautery

Track 9: Night Blindness and Color Blindness

The inability to see the shading is called color blindness, but is not a type of blindness by any means. With this vision problem, one experience issues in recognizing certain shades, for example, blue and yellow or red and green. Visual impairment all the more accurately, shading vision lack is an acquired condition that impacts generally males more than females in an order of 8:1. Red-green shading absence is the most well-known type of visual impairment. Significantly more once in a while, a man may attain a quality that decreases the capability to see blue and yellow shades. This blue-yellow shading inadequacy influences both men and women similarly.  Nyctalopia is another name for night blindness and is a kind of vision impairment. Individuals with night blindness come across poor vision at night or in faintly lit situations. Even though the point that the expression "night blindness" suggests that you can not see at night, this is not the situation. People with night blindness experience trouble seeing or driving in dimness. A few types of night blindness are treatable, and some sorts are not treatable. One must go to specialist to decide the basic reason for vision impairment.

Track 10: Ocular Oncology and Pathology

Malignant melanoma arises most commonly in adults aged 60 to 65 years. It occurs due to the uncontrolled growth of cells called melanocytes. Ocular oncology is a very specialized field of ophthalmology.  Ocular oncology is transdisiplinary which includes, general oncologists, pediatric oncologists specialist nurses, clinical scientists, and many others. The most commonly observed malignancies are uveal and conjunctivitis melanoma, uveal metastasis, intraocular, conjunctiva carcinoma, and conjunctiva lymphoma. Diagnosis is based on bio microscopy, angiography, optical coherence tomography, ultrasonography auto fluorescence imaging, and biopsy. The most common type of tumors includes naive, chordal haemangioma.  Many of these lesions require treatment and/or long-term observation. Eyelid and orbital tumors can be managed with oculoplastic or orbital specialist services.

• Anisocoria
• Lagophthalmos
• Night blindness
• Uveitis
• Macular degeneration
• Heterochromia iridis
• Hyphema
• Aniridia
• Iridodialysis

Track 11: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension – Ocular Migraine

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) arises when high pressure around the brain causes symptoms like vision changes, headaches, optic atrophy, and eventually leads to blindness. The main cause for this hypertension is unknown. IIH occurs when the fluid around the brain and spinal cord builds up in the skull. This builds up extra pressure on the brain and damages the optic nerve. It is a rare disorder which generally seen in children and obese women during their pregnancy. It is partially known as pseudotumor cerebri (false brain tumor) as the symptoms closely match a brain tumor.

• Ocular motility disturbances
• Degree of papilledema
• Olfactory dysfunction in patients with IIH
• Eyestrain

Track 12: Corona Virus and Ocular Manifestations

Corona virus RNA has been identified in tears of the infected patients and research suggest that the ocular surface may serve as a portal for entry of virus and acts as a reservoir for viral transmission. Few COVID-19 patients reported ocular surface manifestations. The most frequently reported ocular presentations of SARS-CoV-2 were:

• Follicular conjunctivitis
• Ocular pain
• Redness
• Discharge

Track 13: Nutrition for Eye Health and Sight

Nutrition has a great role on eye health, protects eyes from harmful light, and reduces the development of age-related degenerative diseases. They help to prevent cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Research proposes that antioxidants in food may reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Specific antioxidants are used for specific conditions like vitamin A for blindness, vitamin C for glaucoma, Omega-3 essential fatty acids protects from alleviating symptoms of dry eye syndrome and guarding against macular damage.  The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the normal daily dietary intake level of a nutrient satisfactory to meet the requirements of body.

• Beta–carotene
• Bioflavonoids (Flavonoids)
• Lutein and Zeaxanthin
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Selenium
• Vitamin A, C, D, E
• Zinc

Track 14: Ophthalmic Surgeries

Ophthalmic surgery also known as ocular surgery is performed in the eye to treat a disorder or an ailment by an ophthalmologist. There are many types of eye surgeries which comprises of corrective surgery-which is done to correct or treat a disorder. Phacoemulsification is a cataract surgery in which the internal lens in the eye is adjusted. Glaucoma surgery is done to reduce the excess intraocular fluid pressure. Orbital surgery is specifically considered with the eyelids or orbit and the lacrimal system.

• Orbital decompression Surgery
• Tear duct Surgery
• Refractive Surgery
• Vision Correction Surgery
• Retinal Replacement Surgery
• Retinal Detachment Surgery
• Cataract Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Glaucoma Surgery
• Strabismus Surgery
• Oculoplastic Surgery
• Diabetic Retinopathy Surgery

Track 15: Biomedical Research in Ophthalmology

Biomedical research is a subdivision of science useful to categorize ways to prevent and treat diseases that responsible for illness and death in animals and human beings. Biomedical researchers study biological processes and diseases using biotechnological techniques to prevent and treat diseases effectively. Invention of new medicines and therapies need careful scientific experimentation, development, and evaluation. Biomedical research comprises:

• Study of specific diseases and conditions
• Design of methods, drugs and devices used to diagnose diseases.
• To support and maintain the individual during and after treatment for specific diseases or conditions.

Track 16: Drugs to Treat Allergic Conjunctivitis

It is estimated that about 25% of the population is affected by allergic conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is a common ocular inflammatory infection triggered by exposure to allergen, bacteria, and virus.  Inflammation of the conjunctiva, a tissue that keeps the eyelid and eyeball moist leads to conjunctivitis. Allergic symptoms arise because of over-reactivity of the immune system that activates mast cells and in turn, causes histamine release.  Some allergic conjunctivitis are: Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, Perennial allergic conjunctivitis, Vernal keratoconjunctivitis, Contact hypersensitivity reactions, Giant papillary conjunctivitis, Atopic keratoconjunctivitis. For severe cases of some allergic conjunctivitis surgical intervention may be indicated. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with medications like:

• Topical antihistamines
• Mast cell stabilizers
• Non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Corticosteroids

Track 17: Novel Ophthalmic Drug Delivery

Human eye is protected by a unique anatomy and physiology. Therefore, it minimizes the transport of medication by traditional dosage forms to the eye and the therapeutic concentrations of drugs might not be maintained for long duration of time. Development of ocular drug delivery systems helped to place the medication on the anterior segment of the eye, and treat ocular infections for a prolonged period. Various biodegradable or non-biodegradable polymer intravitreal implants, have been widely investigated for the treatment of chronic vitreoretinal diseases. In the treatment of chronic diseases, the dosing frequency can be reduced by developing ocular drug delivery systems which provide controlled release of medication.

• Liposomes
• Niosomes
• Nanoparticles
• Iontophorosis
• Corneal shields
• Inserts
• Drug embedded contact lenses
• In-situ gel
• Ocular wafers and films

Track 18: Eye Laser Surgeries Advancements and Limitations

Eye or ocular surgeries are performed on eye by ophthalmologist. Several ancient texts dating back as early as 1800 BC mentioned about eye surgery, with cataract treatment starting within the fifth century. Today various advanced eye surgery procedures are available to treat eye problems. Laser eye surgeries are also called as vision correction surgeries generally performed to fix the vision problems. Most eye surgeries are performed to reshape the cornea. Visions correcting surgical procedures are used to correct vision in far sited (hyperopia) or near sighted (myopia) or in people with astigmatism. Various refractive procedures include:

• LASIK
• SMILE
• Surface Laser Treatments (PRK, LASEK and TransPRK)

Track 19: Diagnostic Instruments in Optometry

Diagnostic and therapeutic equipment help to diagnose and treat a disease. Ophthalmic instruments are developed to prevent eye damage, injuries. A modern-day optometry practice use innovative techniques, that delivers the best quality service and provide customer satisfaction.

• Tonometer and Types
• Phoropter
• Ophthalmoscope
• Ophthalmic Refraction Unit
• Keratometer
• A-Scan Biometer

Track 20: Effect of Digital Screens on Eye

Throughout the average day we are constrained to multiple digital devices and screens, like cell phones, tablets, computers, and television screens.  It seems like we should avoid regular watching of some piece of technology that literally surrounds us. Some studies showed that people are spending more than half of their day using technology, while others have disclosed that their technology usage consumes 10-12 hours of time in a day.  Some common effects that technology can show on eye health due to persistent use of devices and screens throughout the day are:

• Headaches and Migraines
• Computer Vision Syndrome
• Retina Damage
• Less Blinking
• Closer Focus
• Uncomfortable Angles

Track 21: Robotics in Eye Surgery

In this 21st century almost every human activity involves usage of technology in some way or the other. Humans always strive to develop new and improved technologies and automation to make a tedious process easy, safe, accurate, quick, and simple. One such successful attempt is application of robots in eye surgeries. Eye surgeries are used to treat a variety of disorders, including cataracts, glaucoma, detached retinas, retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy and nearsightedness or farsightedness. Human eye being a very small, constrained, and intricate sensory system, requires very precise motion of surgical tools while performing a surgery. Advancements in robotics have led to perform a surgery with great accuracy, in less time with minimal loss of blood. Robots have been playing a crucial aid role to surgeons in performing eye surgeries, especially in cataracts. Some of the robotic technologies being used in eye surgeries are:

• Da- Vinci robotic system
• Intraocular Robotic Interventional Surgical System (IRISS)
• The Johns Hopkins Steady-Hand Eye Robot