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LV Prasad Eye Institute, Visakhapatnam.

With the generous support of the Palakurthi Foundation, Vision-Aid, together with LVPEI Visakhapatnam, is proud to jointly launch the Vasantha – Krupa Palakurthi Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) Resource Center. This center was inaugurated on January 4th 2024.  

Together, LVPEI and Vision-Aid aim to provide holistic care and support for individuals with CVI, ensuring they receive the best possible outcomes.

GOAL:

  • To enhance early detection: Improve early diagnosis and intervention for children with CVI.
  • To support families: Provide comprehensive support and resources for families dealing with CVI.
  • To advance research: Continue research in CVI to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
  • To empower lives: Provide inclusive solutions that empower individuals affected by CVI.

 

This new CVI resource center is committed to supporting children with CVI and their families. Recognizing CVI as the leading cause of blindness in children, the center offers specialized attention and goes beyond clinical examinations. It provides tailored vision assessments and a comprehensive range of programs, delivering not just treatments but also the tools to unlock a world of opportunities. This approach ensures that children and their families can experience life to the fullest.

Leading the Way in Vision Rehabilitation:

As the pioneering center of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, this facility is set to become a vital hub for training vision professionals from across India. The impact of this center will reach far beyond Andhra Pradesh, shaping the future of Vision Rehabilitation by educating the next generation of professionals in the field of CVI.

Enabling dreams and opportunities:

With the inauguration of this center, we are not merely opening the doors to a new facility; we are unlocking pathways to opportunities, dreams, and a brighter future. Here, every child, regardless of their challenges, will have the chance to thrive, learn, and lead.

Key Services

 

  1. Thorough clinical examinations
  2. Tailored vision assessments to understand each patient’s unique needs.
  3. Customized therapy sessions including vision therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy
  4. Counseling to support patients and their families.
  5. Home Therapy kit
  6. Nutritional supplements

HIGHLIGHTS:

Over the recent quarters of year 2024, the center initiated its services by enrolling 77 children with CVI. The center has also dispensed many spectacles and advised home vision therapy with Vision Nanny (a web application that offers comprehensive solutions for both the assessment and intervention of CVI). Additionally, materials for home-based training have been distributed to 29 children. Beyond vision care, the center addresses the nutritional needs of children with CVI by providing nutritional supplements to 40 children and offering a refreshment allowance for their parents.

Inaugurated on January 4, 2024, at LVPEI’s GMR Varalakshmi Campus in Visakhapatnam, the Vasantha-Krupa Palakurthi Vision-Aid Resource Centre provides specialized care for children with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). The center offers a comprehensive range of services, including detailed clinical examinations, customized vision assessments, and specialized vision therapy, all integrated with physiotherapy, special education, speech therapy, and counseling to ensure holistic support tailored to each child’s unique needs.

Counseling, Assessment, and Guidance

Early identification and intervention are crucial for children with CVI, which can affect visual processing and potentially lead to delays in speech, motor, and cognitive development. The counseling process educates parents, assesses children’s abilities, and provides tailored interventions, benefiting 137 children between November 2023 and September 2024. This structured approach aims to enhance their development and overall potential.

Home-Based Training Support

To support ongoing development, training materials were distributed to families of 66 children with CVI. This home-based training is essential for developing visual skills through consistent practice in familiar settings. Parents receive training on the CVI kit, which includes tools like torchlights and visual aids, empowering them to engage actively in their children’s growth.

Vision Nanny Program

The innovative Vision Nanny program offers free subscriptions to 48 enrolled children, enhancing home-based learning with customizable activities targeting visual skills across three phases of CVI. Accessible on various devices, the program includes tools like the Digital Lightbox and Picture Dictionary, allowing educators to adapt materials for a tailored learning experience.

Customized Support and Nutrition

A total of 194 children received customized spectacles to enhance their residual vision, facilitating better interaction with their surroundings. Additionally, 75 children benefited from nutritional supplement kits tailored to their dietary needs, supporting their physical and cognitive development.

Financial Support for Families

To ease financial burdens, the project reimbursed travel and food expenses for 12 parents attending therapy sessions, promoting regular follow-ups. From November 2023 to September 2024, 1,303 vision therapy sessions were conducted for 35 children, focusing on enhancing visual, motor, speech, and cognitive skills.

Specialized Therapy Programs

Speech therapy targeted motor skills, benefiting 35 children through 1,145 sessions aimed at improving communication. Physiotherapy sessions focused on motor functions and mobility, with 1,064 sessions conducted for the same group. Specialized education interventions included 1,157 sessions addressing Concept Development, Sensory Integration, and Daily Living Skills, crucial for fostering independence and improving quality of life.

Workshops and Community Engagement

Two workshops on CVI awareness were held on April 27 and July 27, 2024, at the GMR Varalakshmi Campus, organized by LVPEI in collaboration with the Palakurthi Foundation. Led by experts, these workshops aimed to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, educators, and parents, fostering collaboration and providing valuable insights for supporting children’s vision development.

On September 5, 2024, Mr. Ramakrishna Raju and Ms.Revathy Ramakrishna from Vision-Aid,  visited the campus to discuss project progress and engage with children and parents, inspiring the team to enhance their efforts and connections with the community.

Each child receives a range of interventions. Since its establishment, numerous therapeutic sessions have been given under the following categories:

  1. Vision therapy – 600 sessions
  2. Physiotherapy – 476 sessions
  3. Speech therapy- 479 sessions
  4. Special Education- 442 sessions

The collaboration between LVPEI Visakhapatnam and Vision-Aid reflects a shared commitment to improving the lives of children with CVI. This center will be a beacon of hope, offering specialized care and support to those in need, and setting a new standard for vision rehabilitation. Together, we look forward to a future filled with hope, achievements, and endless possibilities for the many children who will benefit from this center.

Vasantha-Krupa Palakurthi Vision-Aid Resource Centre