In recent times, an explosion of vision problems in India and worldwide, has created a growing need for eye care. Over three billion people the world over need vision correction and this number is rapidly growing. Conditions like myopia, age related disorders coming with aging population are the upcoming challenges. Also, new generation communication technology has created an additional demand on the visual task.
Answers to these problems lie in the continued research in Visual sciences and Optometry. Today India does not have an exclusive Vision Sciences research facility. As a result, most students who have a potential for research, after completing their graduation, emigrate overseas for pursuing their Master’s in Optometry. This not only results in a brain drain situation, but also makes the contribution of India in the area of vision sciences appear negligible. More over the researched products are either inaccessible or not suitable to an average Indian. The need of the hour is research on newer and cheaper diagnostic and prescriptive devices are suitable and applicable to Indian patients.
The Lotus College of Optometry aims to address this need by setting up a state of art research facility for Vision Sciences, and offering a 2year M. Optom program.

Why M.Optom at Lotus College of Optometry?

Late. Mr. Naval P. Baliwalla founded the Lotus College Of Optometry in the year 2000. The Master’s program is one of the projects which he had planned and initiated during his time. Under his leadership had scaled new heights. He sowed the seeds for an extremely able team that has the zeal to continue his good work. As the Master’s program is based on clinical research, the department includes the following:

Clinical Facilities

We offer well equipped clinical facilities for Pediatric Optometry, Low Vision and Rehabilitation, Ocular photography, Cornea and Contact lens, detection of Ocular Diseases, Binocular Vision Anomalies and Vision Therapy. Full-time access to the Internet and e-journals

       

Faculty

The faculty team at the Lotus College is a highly qualified and dedicated team. The key faculty members supporting the M.Optom Program are:
Dr. Dinshaw Dastoor, MBBS, MS, DOMS, FRCS: He has been on our faculty team since our inception in August 2000. Besides his DO, MS in Ophthalmology he has completed his FRCS, and has been consistently rated as the best faculty by students from B.Optom.
Dr. Neepa Thacker, MBBS, MS, DNB, FRCS: Head of the Pediatric Eye Department at the Lotus Eye Hospital. She has done her fellowships from Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California and Singapore Eye Institute. She has several research papers and articles to her credit. She is a regular speaker at the American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology.
Dr. Vatsal S. Parikh, M.S., D.O.M.S.,F.C.P.S: He is an eminent Vitreo Retinal Surgeon. Over the years he has earned the reputation of being the best retinal surgeon for his scientific work with humane touch. His centre has been an externship centre for Lotus Under graduates since past ten years.
Dr. Swaranjeet Singh Bhatti, MBBS, DOMS, DNB, FCPS: Dr. Bhatti is very well known academician from Lokmanya Tilak Hospital (Sion). He is a wellknown academician from Lokmanya Tilak (Sion) Medical College and Hospital. Besides being a good teacher and consultant he is also wellknown for his contribution towards Ophthalmic photography.
Mr. Pancham Kulkarni, graduate from the prestigious Elite School of Optometry, Chennai. He has completed his Master’s from the University of New South Wales, Australia. He is also a member of the International Association of Contact lens Educators, Australia. His thesis was on Orthokeratology and scleral lenses. Although young, he is very confident in his ability to guide the postgraduates in their advanced contact lens module.
Mr. Russel Dias, graduate from the first batch of Lotus College of Optometry, Mumbai. He further did his M.Optom from the University of New South Wales, Australia. Before applying for his Master’s program, Mr. Dias had dedicated one year to teaching following his graduation.
Mrs. Chitra Chandrasekhar, PGD from the prestigious IIM, Ahmedabad, is a faculty on the B. Optom program for Biostatistics and prepares the undergraduates for their clinical research. She is also a well-known trainer for Quality Management Systems. She will be guiding the postgraduates on the statistical aspects of the research protocols.

International Associations

Besides the infrastructure, the College over six years has developed several International Associations from which support is drawn for academic development.

Resource Center for, International Association of Contact Lens Educators, Australia.
Member of the prestigious World Council of Optometry, USA.
Resource Centre for, International Center for Eyecare Education, Australia.
Partnership with ORBIS International, USA.
The College also draws supports from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, in USA and Institute de Centre of Optometry, in France.

Duration: 2 years part time.

The M.Optom program consists of courses as listed below. 
Each course comprises of 6 or 12 UOC which court towards the total of 48 UOC required for this degree. The program provides advanced training in clinical and theoretical aspects of Optometry, which opportunities to specialize in fields such as Contact lens, Pediatric Optometry & Low Vision Aids.

                          

Available courses in M.Optom degree: -

1. Mrs. Lakshmi Shinde M.S.Optometry Asia Pacific Co-ordinator IACLE 
2. Dr. Krishna Kumar, Ph.D Principal, Elite School of Optometry, Chennai 
3. Dr. Karan Aggarwala, B.Sc(A.I.I.M.S) Ph.D (S.U.N.Y USA), F.A.A.O Consultant Optometrist 
4. Dr. Anand Shroff, MBBS, DOMS, Consultant Ophthalmologist
5. Mrs. Urmi Vora Gogari M.Optom National Supervisor and consultant optometrist Department of Non-communicable disease Ministry of Health, Muscat Sultanate of Oman
6. Dr. Ramesh. S.Ve.,Ph.D Faculty, Elite School of Optometry, Chennai