Center for Interdisciplinary Programs (CIPs), IIT-Hyderabad (IIT-H) in collaboration with LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a blended Master of Technology (M.Tech) program in Ophthalmic Engineering through their combined specialization in eye care is starting. and Engineering and Technology from this academic year (August).
The objective of this collaborative M.Tech program is to bridge the gap between physicians and medical practitioners working in eye care with qualified technologists from the relevant engineering stream. This can be achieved through a training program that blends essential elements of medical care (eye care) and engineering (optics, biomechanics, and control engineering).
The objective of the program is to create a pool of qualified eye engineers who can meet the challenges in eye care and develop technology products. This unique, promising program is expected to create professionals who can take on the technology challenges in ophthalmology as a start-up.
This program is ideal for medical college graduates, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and engineers interested in pursuing their careers in the areas of technology-enabled eye care and vision science.
This requires students to complete 52 credits over two years, consisting of two semesters with 14 credits/semester in the first year. In these two semesters, the program requires students to complete compulsory 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.
Students are offered the opportunity each semester to select a few courses from a basket of courses to meet the 14-credit requirement, which includes 18 core credits in various areas of ophthalmology, vision science, and various in eye care. Engineering aspects and consists of ten credits. of electives from the respective subject domain. The course work consists of both theory and lab and will be taken up by leading academicians from both IIT-H and LVPEI teams. The completion of 24 credits (12 credits in each semester) is required in the third and fourth semesters by undertaking a project under the supervision of both the IIT-H and LVPEI teams in collaboration with industry partners.
“IIT-H has a rich technology and innovation ecosystem with several departments working on cutting edge areas. In keeping with the mission of invention and innovation in technology for humanity, the institute established a Center for Interdisciplinary Programs (CIP) to encourage cross-disciplinary research and innovation. Eye care is one of the important areas of societal interest and technological importance, and our faculty members are already working with leading institutions in the field including LV Prasad Eye Institute,” said IIT-H Director BS Murthy.
“Apart from world-class eye care services, LVPEI is also known for advocating for public eye health, basic science research in eye care, capacity building of eye care personnel, vision rehabilitation and eye banking. The Institute has also established a Center for Technology Innovation, where clinicians can actively work with engineers and designers to develop innovative solutions for the investigation, diagnosis and management of complex eye disorders. In this context, the joint MTech program with IIT-H is a welcome collaboration, adding a scintillating dimension to our education programs and taking technology innovation to a whole new level at LVPEI,” said LVPEI Executive President Prashant Garg said.