Bharat Ratna Prof. A P J Abdul Kalam inaugurating Mrs Madhuram Narayanan Surgical Complex. Others in the picture (L to R): Dr Prema Padmanabhan, N Sankar, Dr Vasanthi Badrinath, Prof. Kalam, Chairman Emeritus K S Narayanan, and Dr S S Badrinath, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya.
Former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India Prof. A P J Abdul Kalam inaugurated two new facilities of the renowned eye-
care institution, Sankara Nethralaya, on December 12, 2001.
One was a surgical complex and the other was an advanced optical laser, the Allegretto Wave Excimer laser, the first such laser system in South India.
Named after the late Madhuram Narayanan and sponsored by the Sanmar group, the new surgical complex at the Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Nethra Nilayam had state-of-the-art medical and surgical equipment, according to Dr T S Surendran, Medical Director, Sankara Nethralaya.
The hospital had low post-operative infection rates comparable with any facility in the world. The new laser used the flying spot technology in which a computer controlled, small spot of laser was moved across the cornea to create a smooth sculpted surf-
ace. It could perform “customised cornea ablation”which takes into account the optical imperfections of each individual eye, said Dr Prema Padmanabhan, Head, Refractive Coronary Service. Sankara Nethralaya can now offer this technology to patients with myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and selective corneal disorders.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Abdul Kalam said that nobility of heart, an indomitable spirit and a universal mind were the essential qualities that moulded leaders. He reminded the younger generation of the importance of team spirit and hard work.
Dr S S Badrinath, Chairman, Medical Research Foundation, said it was the financial support of many philanthropists and organisations which enabled the Nethralaya to introduce the latest facilities.