Former President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam today stressed the need for setting up maximum number of eye care centres in the country especially in the rural areas. Addressing the 45th foundation day celebration of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences of AIIMS in New Delhi, Kalam said that fighting Glaucoma disease is a major challenge for the entire Ophthalmic community.

Kalam said besides new eye care centres and mobile clinics, the existing ones need to be equipped with the latest technology. He called for the use of nano-technology for research purposes. He added that the use of stem cell research can help restore vision of eye patients. Dr. Kalam urged doctors and nurses to take part in eye care programmes in rural areas to help poor and needy people.

Earlier Dr. Kalam inaugurated a new facility at the centre. The facility has services like Glaucoma reasearch laboratory,ocular radiology and video angiography unit.