Beyond Borders – LVPEI Brings Teleophthalmology Training to Nurses from Antigua

In a major step toward expanding quality eye care globally, the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) hosted a 5-day capacity-building program in teleophthalmology for nursing professionals from Antigua. Held in July, the teleophthalmology training program focused on giving the international trainees exposure to LVPEI’s entire teleophthalmology ecosystem. The program included four Bachelor of Science trainees, led by Program Head, Dr Padmaja Kumari Rani, alongside coordinators, Dr Harshitha Kadava, Dr PVKS Varma, Ms Swapna Yarakala and Ms Sandhya Jallapuram from the Teleophthalmology Command Centre (TOCC) and Mr Sarath Chandra from International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye care (ICARE).

A Comprehensive, Hands-On Experience

Trainees were provided a deeper look at LVPEI’s teleophthalmology platform through a blend of academic sessions, live demonstrations, field visits, and hands-on practice. Over the course of five days, the trainees experienced every stage of LVPEI’s teleophthalmology network. They visited the TOCC, explored the institute’s electronic medical records workflow, and gained insights into the functioning of the Eye Bank, Rehabilitation Centre, and AI-powered diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening at the LILAC Centre. Classroom sessions introduced them to the concepts of teleophthalmology in an Indian context, the LVPEI pyramidal model of care and rural eye care delivery system, referral protocols, quality standards and complex case scenario reviews. Beyond observing clinical workflows, participants also observed live teleconsultation sessions at LVPEI’s Vision and Secondary Centres, practiced mock drills, and explored how LVPEI’s teleophthalmology model could be adapted to the healthcare context in Antigua.

The program concluded with pre- and post-training assessments and certificate distribution. Speaking about their takeaway from the training, one of the participants said, “The training showed how easy it is to provide care to patients, especially the less fortunate, without requiring them to spend money or travel long distances, allowing them to receive care in the comfort of their own town. I also learned the importance of clear images and accurate information and how they benefit both patients and doctors. Finally, I understood the importance of creating awareness within the community.”

This initiative marks LVPEI’s first collaboration with eye care personnel from Antigua and according to the LVPEI faculty, “It was a very good start. After this initiative, we are confident to carry out similar programs on a larger scale in the future.”