Vision Care Academy marked this year’s Optometry Day and 12th Annual Scientific Session with an educational event held under the theme “Innovative World with Better Focus”.
Dr. Manel Pasqual, Consultant Ophthalmologist, National Eye Hospital Sri Lanka was the Chief Guest while Udeni Wickramarachchi – Chairman, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission Sri Lanka was the Guest of Honor. Vision Care Academy organizes this annual event to provide a platform for the education, awareness, and knowledge sharing of all matters related to the field of Optometry and Hearing Care while nurturing the interest of the students of the Academy and encouraging them to devote their time towards research studies. This event is also the official convocation where certificates were awarded to the students who passed out of Vision Care Academy on successfully completing their respective courses.
The Inaugural Keynote Address was delivered by Prof. Madhuwanthi Dissanayake, Professor & Consultant Eye Surgeon, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Subsequently, four educational sessions were held on a variety of topics related to the field of Optometry and Hearing Care. During the first session, an informative speech was made by Dr. D.R.R. Kodikara, Consultant Ophthalmologist on ‘Ocular Diagnostics’. Dr. Aruna Fernando made the second session address, Consultant Ophthalmologist/Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon on ‘Binocular Vision & Vision Therapy’, while the third session address was delivered by Ananth Lakshmi, Senior. Optometrist/AGM-ECP Training & Development, Essilor India on ‘Community Optometry & Dispensing’. Additionally, during the fourth session, Dr. Sanjeewani Rupasinghe, Consultant ENT Surgeon delivered the keynote speech on ‘Hearing Care’.
The event concluded with handing over certificates to 34 Vision Care Academy graduates while several individuals took awards in multiple Research categories. The award winners were Chanura Mahindapala, Best Oral Presentation (Senior), Chandramohan Thilakshana, Best Oral Presentation (Jr./DOP), Pramodya Thathsarani, Best Oral Presentation (Jr./COA), Ravindu Deshan, Best Oral Presentation (Jr./CVT), Kavindi Silva, Best Oral Presentation (CDO), Ravindu Deshan, Best Research of the Year, Amila Chandrasekara, Best Poster of the Year, Suresh Sulaxan, Best Innovation of
the Year, Dharunniya Komalasewaran, Best Research Presentation-Audiology, and Ann Sureni, Best Poster-Audiology.
Vidya Jayarathna, Head of Vision Care Academy stated, “We are pleased to be able to celebrate the Optometry Day and Annual Scientific Session in person this year, having done an online event last year. Every year, the exceptional students and staff of the Academy work together tirelessly to organize this looked forward to knowledge sharing event. The event always aims to be on par with international standards as we discuss topics related to optometry and hearing care with the assistance of top experts. At Vision Care Academy, we are proud to play our part in enhancing the knowledge levels in Sri Lanka’s eye and hearing care fields, and we will strive to do so in the future.”
