108 ambulances to respond to eye injuries: Hyderabad gets India’s first pre-hospital eye trauma care initiative
Hyderabad, Oct 22 (TNT) : In a first-of-its-kind emergency healthcare initiative in India, a collaborative pre-hospital eye trauma response network was launched here on Wednesday to equip ‘108’ emergency ambulances with dedicated eye trauma kits and specialized first-responder capabilities.
The tripartite project brings together the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), EMRI Green Health Services (EMRI GHS), and the state-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital to improve early presentation and treatment outcomes for acute ocular injuries.
The pilot programme was jointly unveiled by K. Krishnam Raju, Director of EMRI Green Health Services, and Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, Founder Chair of LVPEI.
The initiative gains critical timing with Diwali approaching, an annual festive period historically marked by an acute surge in firecracker-related eye injuries.
Delayed medical intervention in ocular trauma often leads to irreversible complications, including partial or complete blindness.
In India, the average interval between sustaining an eye injury and presenting at a specialist eye facility currently stands at four days, severely impairing clinical recovery prospects.
Under the pilot framework rolled out across Hyderabad:
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Pre-Hospital First Aid: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) operating ‘108’ ambulances have been trained in eye trauma recognition, field triage, and immediate stabilization techniques before hospital transfer.
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Dedicated Kits: Ambulances are being equipped with specialized eye trauma kits during the pilot phase.
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Dispatch Protocol: “Eye Trauma” has been formally inducted as a distinct emergency category within the 108 Emergency Response Centre (ERC) dispatch directory.
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Coordinated Referral Pathways: Standardized clinical transfer protocols have been established to streamline immediate referrals to tertiary centres, with Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital serving as the primary hub within the public healthcare network alongside LVPEI.
The launch was attended by key ophthalmology and emergency healthcare leaders, including Dr. Pravin K. Vaddavalli, Program Director of the Universal Cornea Care Mission; Dr. Rajeev Reddy Pappuru, Vice Chair, LVPEI; Ramam Atmakuri, Executive Vice Chair Emeritus, LVPEI; and Dr. Poornima Tandra, Consultant Cornea Specialist at LVPEI, who coordinated the institutional collaboration.
Representing EMRI GHS were Senior President Subodh Satyawadi, Emergency Medicine Learning Centre (EMLC) Director Dr. G. V. Ramana Rao, and Consultant Dr. Raja Narsing Rao, while Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital was represented by Head of Ophthalmology Dr. Santa Marisa and Dr. Vijayalakshmi.
The project teams will track patient recovery metrics and dispatch data during the Hyderabad rollout to establish an evidence-based framework for potential statewide expansion.
TNT TS
