The Indian Panorama

Tag: Eye Foundation

  • The Indian Panorama is grateful to Dr. V.K. Raju and the Eye Foundation of America for their work and support

    • By I.S. Saluja

    The Indian Panorama is grateful to Dr. V.K. Raju, President of the Eye Foundation of America and the board of directors of the Eye Foundation of America for their noble humanitarian work and great support to the publication. Their collaboration in publishing the special edition to pay tribute to Martyrs of India on the Martyrs Day is worth appreciation and deserves our gratitude.

    We take this opportunity to briefly introduce the eminent eye surgeon and a great philanthropist and his  team  dedicated to creating a world without childhood blindness.

    Dr. V.K. Raju

    VK Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS

    Ellis Island Award Nominee 2019

    Ophthalmologist, Regional Eye Associates

    President and Founder, Eye Foundation of America

    President and Founder, Goutami Eye Institute

    Clinical Professor, West Virginia University

    Director, International Ocular Surface Society

    Adjunct Professor, GSL Medical School

    Adjunct Professor, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University

    Author: Musings on Medicine, Myth, and History-India’s Legacy

    Dr. VK Raju received his medical degree from Andhra University, India and Residency and Fellowship in UK. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American college of Surgeons.

    V.K.Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS is a clinical professor of ophthalmology at West Virginia University, WV, USA, and practicing ophthalmologist at Regional Eye in Morgantown, WV, USA. In 1977, work began on what is now known as the Eye Foundation of America. With Dr. Raju’s guidance, the Eye Foundation of America’s work has grown. To date, the Eye Foundation of America has performed over 4 million vision screenings in rural areas of over 30 countries across the world, the latest being Guatemala in November, 2023.  Through the Eye Foundation of America, over 400,000 sight-saving surgeries have been performed at no cost. Over 800 medical professionals, including many residents and ophthalmologists, have been trained to identify and treat eye diseases.

    Dr. Raju remains highly involved as the Founder and President of the Eye Foundation of America to this day, returning to India every few months to participate in educational programs, vision screening camps, and surgeries.

    New green Goutami Eye Institute under construction

    His insatiable drive to improve the lives of others has also resulted in the recent culmination of another lifelong goal. The construction of another eye hospital is underway with wings devoted to specialties including ocular oncology, pediatric ophthalmology, and the retinopathy of prematurity, a disease effecting premature babies.

    Dr. V.K. Raju with President Jimmy Carter

    Dr. VK Raju has received awards from American Academy of Ophthalmology four times for his teaching, research and international service. A partial list of awards include Doctor Nathan Davis International award of Excellence in Medicine by American Medical Association Foundation, Lifetime Achievement Award from WV State Medical Association, the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama, Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman award for Achievement in Medicine, House of Lords, London. He also received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Award from West Virginia University. He was also inducted into Medical Missions Hall of Fame by University of Toledo and Medscape placed him among the best doctors in America. Recently, he was awarded The Indian Panorama Lifetime Achievement Honor by  Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India’s  Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

    Dr. Raju receiving The Indian Panorama Lifetime Achievement Honor from Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

    For over 40 years, Dr. Raju has dedicated himself to eliminating avoidable blindness in children and adults through outreach programs, surgeries, and educational efforts. V. K. Raju has published over 100 scientific articles, 17 book chapters, and 2 books. Still, he will tell you, “My work is only the beginning.” Only this morning, Dr. Raju shared with me two quotes. Now these quotes are a pointer to his mind.

    “Of all the senses vision is the most precious.”

    ( SARVENDRIYANAM NAYANAM PRADHANAM- in Sanskrit.

    80% of our learning is through vision.

    Join us in giving a gift of vision “

    Another now.

    “There is nothing new under the sun.”

    In this world, nothing is more important than children’s nutrition and education. If we give them nutrition and education, they will take care of themselves.

    Since 1977, Eye foundation of America is striving to do just that.

    “Be part of that effort”.

    He often speaks about the colossal work which needs to be done to prevent childhood blindness. He is passionate about his vision of a world without childhood blindness.

    Luckily for him, he says, he has been blessed with a wonderful team who are always there to share his vision and work for its realization. Let me introduce the readers of The Indian panorama to this great team.

    The Eye Foundation of America Board of Directors.

    We have no doubt that the vision of Dr. Raju to have a world without childhood blindness will be realized. If human effort could create a world without polio, why can’t the world be free from childhood blindness?

    We wish you, Dr. Raju and your dedicated team all success.

  • Dr. V.K. Raju, President of EFA appeals for eradicating childhood blindness

    Dr. V.K. Raju, President of EFA appeals for eradicating childhood blindness

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP)– “There is so much blindness, and it can be avoided today, with the present-day cost-effective means . I could not have said this 25 years ago. Combating childhood blindness has been identified by the World Bank as the most cost-effective health intervention. 80% of learning comes through vision. If the child misses the chance , he suffers for the rest of his life -almost 75 years of life. With a very little investment we can give a child 75 years of productive life.”

    Dr. V. K. Raju, President of the Eye Foundation of America which has set for itself the goal to have a world without childhood blindness was speaking on the tragedy of childhood blindness at the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Indian American International Chamber of Commerce at the Ronald Reagan Center for International Trade in Washington, D.C. March 31.

    Giving an impressive presentation on childhood blindness, Dr. Raju said that there are many conditions that cause blindness in children. They can be born with cataracts . They can be born with cloudy corneas. They can be born with glaucoma that is high blood pressure in the eye and various other abnormalities . If we catch them early, incredible things can be done today which we could not do 20 or 25 years ago.

    My work started in 1977 at eye camps. We took some great technology in 70s and 80s to India which was not available at that time in India. Since ‘91, Indian ophthalmology has advanced because of liberalization and privatization. Some of the children we operated on went on to finish college.

    The greatest story I would like to share with you is about Srinu Maddula . At the age of one and a half year, he was almost blind because of corneal cloudiness . Cornea is the front of the eye like a crystal of a watch. We brought him here to Morgantown in West Virginia. We performed corneal transplants on both eyes and he went on to finish doctorate in pharmacy from Rutgers University. He is the CEO of a multimillion-dollar retail pharmacy company. He never forgot what he received from the Eye Foundation of America. He is one of the greatest patrons of the Eye Foundation of America, which is involved in more than 30 countries to combat childhood blindness. Real collaboration is the key for any major thing to happen in this world. We need political will, professional will , and people’s will. If they combine, anything can be achieved.

    In this century, we eradicated polio from the planet because of Rotary involvement. Rotary international brought together the political will, the professional will, and people’s will. Nelson Mandela once said, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

    The Eye Foundation screened and examined over 4 million individuals and performed more than 300,000 surgeries of which 30,000 were on children in 30 countries of the world. Giving vision to children is priceless. It cannot be measured in monetary terms. Let’s come together to have a world which is free from childhood blindness. Dr. Raju’s impassioned plea was very well taken by the audience. IAICC leaders expressed a desire to collaborate with the Eye Foundation of America.

    Incidentally, after India and neighboring countries and Africa, Dr. Raju is bending his attention to Central America. He goes to Guatemala later this month to hold eye examination camps there on the invitation of India’s Ambassador to Guatemala, Mr. Manoj Mohapatra who is very keen to have Dr. Raju help out Guatemalans.

    For more information on the Eye Foundation of America, please visit www.eyefoundationofamerica.org

    Mr. K.V. Kumar, Executive Chairman and CEO (left) and Mr. Shankar Rachakonda , Vice Chairman and Chairman, Fund-raising Committee, IAICC, USA (right) honoring Dr. V.K. Raju with a plaque.