Optician India

Elite School of Optometry’s International Vision Science and Optometry Conference - EIVOC 2025

Elite School of Optometry (ESO), started in the year 1985, is a pioneer in the field of Optometric education in India that started the first four year degree programme for optometry. ESO is run by the world renowned eye hospital , Sankara Nethralaya, a unit of the Medical Research Foundation. Late Padma Bhushan Dr S S Badrinath founded the ESO to ensure availability of professionally trained optometrists who will cater to the growing eye care needs of the community. ESO also started its first and only branch in Kolkata named as “Sankara Nethralaya Elite School of Optometry’ in 2024. This year the college is having almost 21 students pursuing undergraduate optometry programme in Kolkata.

The institution has expanded its horizons from academia par world class to research par world class through its international conferences from 2005. EIVOC (Elite School of Optometry’s International Vision Science and Optometry Conference) – the international conference of ESO, is conducted for three days once in five years, as a scientific feast with clinical and research workshops, symposia, plenary sessions, scientific presentations and posters, industry exhibit stalls, and educational meetings.

Moosi Kazmi (Contributor, Optician India) with Dr. Anuradha Narayan (Principal, Elite School of Optometry and Sankara Nethralaya)

The fourth chapter of EIVOC is being held at the New Convention Center, Chennai Trade Centre, between August 15th and 17th, 2025. The conference is attended by almost 2000 delegates from all around the country and nearby Asia- Pacific countries including Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Australia.

Professors from Harvard and Stanford Medical Schools, Universities of Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, USA, Universities of Manchester, Aston, UK , University of Waterloo, Canada, Linnaeus University Sweden, Deakin University, University of Western Australia, Australia were present. President of the World Council of Optometry and the European Optical Council, prominent eye wear and contact lens industry, low vision and rehabilitation, ophthalmic diagnostics industries and international NGOs like Orbis joined hands to reach out to the students community of the optometry profession.

Optician India Booth at the EIVOC 2025!

Almost 60 speakers from around the world shared their expertise with the delegates on niche areas of optometry and vision science including sports optometry, myopia, occupational optometry, public health and community optometry and women leadership in optometry. Sessions also involved panel discussions on crucial areas like the NCAHP Act, independent practice of optometry, new curricular release for optometry and the contributions of optometry towards the eye health of the public at large.

The highlight of the EIVOC 2025 is the release of ten text books for undergraduate students of optometry and a ‘tech launch’. Tech launch include a website for integrated optics module, a digital psychophysics lab and an app for optometric essentials. More importantly ESO launches the “Sports Optometry Lab” during this occasion. Legendary cricketer Krisnamachari Srikkanth unveiled the lab virtually in a grand inaugural ceremony on August 16th 2025. This lab aims at understanding and measuring various visual functions that are essential for different sports. The results of this experimental lab will help in improving visual efficiency and thereby performance in sports.

The inauguration of the conference was graced by the Chief Guest Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Dr T S Surendran, Chairman, Dr Girish Shiva Rao, President and Medical Director, Dr N Anuradha, Principal of Elite School of Optometry and Mr G Ramachandran Honorary Treasurer along with other dignitaries. ESO marks its presence strongly vouching for optometry through the EIVOC 2025 when it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.