Mrs. Anahita Dastur- Chairperson

Vision is our most precious sense, and one that needs to be protected. Optometrist,being the first line of defense against blindness, are committed to protecting vision. Through extensive training,optometrist are uniquely empowered to provide primary eyecare to the population at large.

India requires 115000 optometrists per Primary eyecare services should be available to all within a convenient travel time and distance. But today India has only 12,000 qualified optometrist.

Our founder, the late Naval P. Baliwalla, seeing the void of this essential primary health care service, had the vision of creating qualified optometrist on par with other developed countries of the world. He conceived this four year degree program in Optometry as per international standards, and approved by the World Council of Optometry, and the program commenced at the Lotus College of Optometry in 2000.

After his initiative, the number of degree programs started growing in different parts of India, and a new cadre of young qualified optometrists emerged, taking primary eye care services in India to the next level. This was Baliwalla’s dream. His vision is carried forward by the able team at Lotus College which he had inspired, who take pride in maintaining the high standards he had set, subsequently introduced .

Today, Optometry in India is truly fulfilling career and its scope is multifold. The practice of Optometry includes

• The examination of the human eye by any method other than surgery
• The prescribing of lenses, prisms, low vision devices, contact lenses, vision therapy and prosthetic devices to correct or treat defects of the human eye.
•  

Employment opportunities are varied and rewarding, and the new generation optometrist is n great demand.

Optometry is a profession I highly recommend to these young men and women who want to be a part of our growth story.