Pakistan Centre for Vision Sciences (PCVS)

 
 

 Introduction

Blindness places an immense socioeconomic burden on the individual as well as the community. The direct economic cost of global blindness has been estimated as 25 billion US dollars per year. This figure does not include the economic resources required for the education, vocational training and social rehabilitation of a  blind person. The annual cost of caring for the 2,136,00 bilaterally blind people in Pakistan has been estimated to be 38.5 billion Pakistani rupees.The magnitude of blindness and its implications have compelled the world to analyze the situation objectively. Following table depicts the comparative picture of blindness at global, regional and national levels.
 

 

 

Prevalence of blindness

 

 

No of the visually impaired /Blind

 

Major causes of blindness

Global situation. 1

0.7%

45 million blind
135 million with 
Low Vision

Cataract; 16 million, 35.5%
Trachoma; 5.4 million, 12%
Glaucoma; 5.2 million, 11.5%

 

Regional situation

Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) 2

For details ,see annexure 1

1.4%
(average of 11country with available data)   

5.8 million  (blind)

Cataract; 3.1million, 50% Trachoma &
corneal opacity; 0.8 million, 14%
Glaucoma; 0.9million, 16%

National situation 3

1.78%

Bilaterally blind;
2.3 million Unilaterally blind;
3.2 million
6.3 million with low vision.

Cataract; 66.7%(of the total    causes of blindness)
Corneal opacities; 12.60%
Refractive errors; 11.40%
Glaucoma; 3.90%
Other causes; 5.40%

Local situation in NWFP 4

1%

0.2% million 

 

 

Cataract; 70%
Corneal opacities; 16.60%
Refractive errors; 7.5%
Others; 6%

 

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Two thirds or more of all blindness is avoidable in that the contributing causes are preventable. World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with International Agency For The Prevention Of Blindness (IAPB) has taken the global initiative of eliminating avoidable blindness by the year 2020,under the Vision 2020 programme. In this programme the concept of Mid Level Eye Care Personnel (MLECP) has emerged as one of the most cost effective measures in both the establishment and strengthening of Comprehensive Eye Care (CEC). It is in this context that Pakistan Centre for Vision Sciences was established as part of Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology   under Khyber Institute of Ophthalmic Medical sciences with the following objectives, to meet the national, provincial and district, Human Recourse Development  needs of Mid Level Eye Care Personnel:

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To provide training opportunities for all cadres of Mid Level Eye Care Personnel (MLECP); who would then;

  1. increase the coverage of essential eye care and ensure quality and equity while delivering these services;

  2. initiate primary eye care and integrate primary eye care into primary health care;

  3. meet the needs of refractive services of  the community;
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To train some of these MLECP in specific areas of advance visual function skills, like optometry, ophthalmic technology skills, and public eye health care management skills as ophthalmic technologists to meet the needs of tertiary eye care Institutions;   

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To cater for such requirements of the countries of Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO as well as other developing countries;

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To develop standardized training programmes in modular form with standardized curricula and national /international faculty;

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To introduce a standardized system of evaluation.

In the light of experiences gained at Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology, Peshawar, the Government of Pakistan will be approached through National Committee for Prevention of Blindness to:
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Replicate such Institutions in other provinces if needed, 

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Devise a career structure for such mid level eye care personnel,

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Introduce and implement a national system of monitoring and evaluation of all  such training programmes in the country through a national regulatory body under the Ministry of Health (MOH) Islamabad.

All the 6 provincial coordinators of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Baluchistan, AJK and Northern Areas have approved the curriculum. The national Leprosy, Blindness and Tuberculosis Control Board under the Ministry of Health, Pakistan have also endorsed this curriculum in a meeting held on the 26th of October 2001 at Islamabad. This curriculum was discussed and approved by at an international forum in a workshop on such curricula in Kurat Thailand in June 2000.  

 

 References:
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Thylefous B et al. data on global blindness. WHO OMS Vol- 73, 1995, P.115-121.
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Regional situation Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) WHO.

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National population –based survey 1989.
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M. Aman Khan MD, Arifa Gulab MD. And M. Daud Khan , FPAMA, Pakistan Journal of ophthalmology, Vol 10. No 2& 3, April and July 1994.

 

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 Aims and Objectives of the training programmes at PCVS:

These courses will enable the health care personnel currently involved in delivering the existing eye care services, in the both the government & private sector, to equip themselves with the standardized knowledge required for this sensitive task.The Programmes have been designed in accordance with the strategies of the vision 2020. The programmes are aimed at providing trained human resource in the field of eye care and henceforth strengthening of the district –based comprehensive eye care Programme.

Through these training programmes are able to provide the following eye care personnel.

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Ophthalmic technicians
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Refractionist

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Orthoptists

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Optometrists

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Ophthalmic technologists

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Ophthalmic specialist nurses
 

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ACADEMIC COMMITTEE:
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The Rector KIOMS, (Chairman).

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Professor of Ophthalmology LRH (KIOMS wing).

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Executive Director Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology.

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Director Academics, Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology.

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Director Pakistan Centre for Vision Sciences, PICO.

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Deputy Registrar Academics – of the affiliating University.

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A representative of SSI, CBM, & FHF.

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01 senior Optometrist, PICO.

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01 Visiting Optometrist.

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Dean Postgraduate Medical Institute, Hayatabad Medical Complex/ a representative of the Dean.
 

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BSC in Vision Sciences (OPtometry/orthoptics/ophthalmic technology):
Duration: Four years (8 semesters)
Eligibility Criteria:F.Sc, Pre-medical/12 years of schooling with science subjects (Biology, Physics, Chemistry) with a minimum of 60% marks.
Credit Hours: 134

Courses

1st Semester
2nd Semester

1.Communication skills
2.Computer skills
3.Mathematics
4.General Anatomy
5.General Physiology
6.Biochemistry
7.Functional English - I

 1.General Pathology
2.General Pharmacology
3.Public Health
4.Islamic Studies
5.Functional English - II
3rd Semester
4th Semester
1.Anatomy of the eye
2.Physiology of the eye
3.Common diseases of the eye
4.Effect of systemic diseases on eye
5.Functional English – III 		1.Basic clinical skills in Ophthalmology
2.Introduction to skills for advance visual    function  assessment
3.Basics of community ophthalmology
4.Pak Studies
5.Practicum
5th Semester
6th Semester
1.Physical Optics
2.Geometrical Optics
3.Visual Optics
4.Clinicl Refraction
5.Orthoptics
6.Practicum		 1.Instrument optics
2.Dispensing optics – I
3.Contact lenses-I
4.Low vision
5.Community optometry
6.Practicum
7th Semester
In the 7th semester onwards, the students have three options for sub-specilalization depending on their aptitude and performance and the institutional policy.

A. Optometry 

1.Review of basic of vision and optics
2.Visual sciences
3.Binocular vision and its clinical       application
4.Clinical Optometry
5.Specialism in Optometry
6.Practicum

B.Orthoptics

1.Review of basic of vision and    optics
2. Visual sciences
3. Binocular vision and its clinical application
4.Clinical Orthoptics
5.Specialism in Orthoptics
6.Practicum
C. Ophthalmic technology

1.Introduction to    ophthalmic technology
2.Specialized diagnostic procedures-I
3.Specialized diagnostic procedures-II
4.Specialized diagnostic procedures-III
5.Specialized diagnostic procedures-IV
6.Lasers in ophthalmology		  
8th Semester

A. Optometry

1.Dispensing optics-II
2.Contact lenses- II
3.Practicum
4.Applied statistics and research            methodology
5.Individual research study and    report

B. Orthoptics

1.Dispensing optics-II
2.Contact lenses- II
3.Practicum
4.Applied statistics and research  methodology
5.Individual research study and report

C. Ophthalmic Technology

1.Ophthalmic  microbiology
2.Eye banking
3.Biomedical engineering
4.Applied statistics and research  methodology
5.Individual research study and report

  

        Affiliation: Khyber Medical University

 

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Refractionist Technician Training (Diploma) RTTC:
Duration: Two years (Annual System)
Eligibility Criteria:F.Sc, Pre-medical/12 years of schooling with science subjects (Biology, Physics, Chemistry) with a minimum of 50% marks.

Courses

1st Year
2nd Year
1.Introduction to human Anatomy
2.Introduction to human Physiology
3.Introduction to Biochemistry
4.Introduction to Pathology
5.Introduction to Pharmacology
6.Normal structure and function of the eye
7.Introduction to common diseases of the eye
8.Basic clinical skills
9.Basics of community ophthalmology
10.Introduction to skills for advance visual function      assessment
11.Islamiyat
12.Functional English 		1.Physical optics and geometrical    optics
2.Visual optics
3.Clinical refraction
4.Dispensing optics
5.Instruments’ optics
6.Orthoptics
7.Contact lenses
8.Low vision
9.Community optometry
10.Pakistan studies

            Affiliation: Khyber Medical University

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Fo

Ophthalmic Technician Training (Diploma) Course (OTTC):
Duration: Two years (4 Semesters)
Eligibility Criteria:
1. For in-service candidates, the minimum requirement is Matric/10 years of schooling with science and a  minimum of C grade; and a Course Certificate from Medical Faculty.
2.For open-merit candidates, the minimum requirement is FSc, Pre- medical/ 12 years of schooling with    science subjects (Biology, Physics, Chemistry) and a minimum of C grade..


Courses

1st Semester
2nd Semester
1.Introduction to human Anatomy
2.Introduction to human    Physiology
3.Introduction to Biochemistry
4.Introduction to Pathology
5.Introduction to Pharmacology		 1.Anatomy of the eye
2.Physiology of the eye
3.Islamiyat
4.English
3rd Semester
4th Semester
1.Common diseases of the eye
2.Community Ophthalmology		 1.Basic clinical skills
2.Advanced visual function assessment
3.Pak-Studies
4.English

            Affiliation: Medical Faculty NWFP

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For Further Details E-Mail To: pcvs@pico.org.pk

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Facilities:
 Modern optical lab
Well-equipped physical lab
Demonstration Room
Computer lab & Reading area


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PCVS Labs Images


Physics Lab


The optical lab at PCVS
 

Demonstration Room


Reading area & computer lab for PCVS trainees


Contact Lens Clinic
 


PCVS Computer Lab


PCVS Computer Lab
   


PCVS Classroom


PCVS Classroom
   

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PCVS Introduction

Aims & Objectives

Academic Committee 

Programmes

BSC Vision Sciences

RTTC (Diploma)

OTTC

Facilities

PCVS Labs Images
 
 
 

 

 

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