IIT Hyderabad, LVPEI launch MTech in Ophthalmic Engineering programme

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad’ Centre for Interdisciplinary Program has collaborated with L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) to launch MTech in Ophthalmic Engineering through their combined expertise in ophthalmic care and in engineering and technology from August 2022.

This collaborative MTech programme aims to bridge the gap between clinicians and the medical practitioner working in eye care with qualified technologists from related engineering streams. This may be achieved through a training programme that blends essential elements of medical care (ophthalmic care) and engineering (optics, biomechanics, and controls engineering).

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“The programme intends to create a pool of qualified ophthalmic engineers who could take up the pressing challenges in eye care and develop technology products. This unique, promising programme is expected to create professionals who can take up technology challenges in ophthalmology as a start-up,” a statement from IIT Hyderabad said.

This programme is ideal for medical school graduates, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and engineers interested in advancing their careers in areas of technology-enabled eye care and vision science.

MTech course curriculum

The programme requires the students to complete 52 credits across two years, consisting of 2 semesters in the first year with 14 credits or semester. In these two semesters, the programme also requires students to complete mandatory courses in communication skills and industry lecture series in the first two semesters, enabling them to become effective communicators and establish contacts with industry leaders.

The students will get an opportunity to select a few courses from a basket of courses to complete the 14-credit requirement in each semester, constituting 18 core credits in various areas of ophthalmology, vision science, and various engineering aspects in eye care and ten credits of electives from the related subject domain.

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Talking about the programme’s relevance, Professor B S Murty, Director, IITH, said, “...I am sure this program would offer an excellent platform for developing new indigenous products in Eyecare, which aligns with the national mission of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. I am confident that this unique program would nurture a pool of talented ophthalmic engineers who would certainly, advance eye care and work towards the mission of a blindless society.”