The first SCHWIND ATOS in India has been recently installed at Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya (SNC) eye clinic in Chitrakoot. The decision was taken in accordance with the basic philosophy of the state-of-the art eye hospital: Providing excellent services, sophisticated infrastructure, and latest technology. “We expect ATOS to provide a high-end technological experience to patients, ensuring excellent clinical outcomes and high satisfaction rates", says Dr. Gautam Parmar, cornea surgeon. “Moreover, the availability of advanced lenticule extraction technology will help us to increase awareness for our refractive portfolio among professionals and patients.”
In 2007, SNC started offering refractive procedures to improve the lives of those with visual deficiencies. In 2016, the clinic decided to acquire and use SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser technology. Already more than 6,000 laser vision correction procedures have been performed with AMARIS so far, most of them as LASIK.
The Indian refractive market continues to grow rapidly and shows a huge potential for lenticule extraction treatments. As a result of increasing demand by laser candidates, SNC decided to broaden its treatment portfolio and provide lenticule extraction as one option. For almost a year, they carefully explored the market and its opportunities to find the best fitting solution. “The high level of satisfaction with both AMARIS performance as well as the previous experience with the company and their Indian distribution partner Care Group had a major impact on choosing SCHWIND ATOS, says Dr. Elesh Jain, Managing Director and trustee. “
“The goal of SCHWIND is to establish ATOS as one of the best femtosecond laser options for Indian eye surgeons who plan to offer their patients safe and precise lenticule extraction procedures”, says Deepak Singhal, SCHWIND Regional Sales Director South Asia. “Vipin Duggal, Director of Indian distribution partner Care Group stated: “We appreciate the trust that SNC has placed in us. It is a privilege to cooperate with a leading eye care provider.”
In 1950, Gurudev Param Pujya Ranchhoddasji Maharaj - respectably called as Gurudev - spearheaded the movement of voluntary eye care services by organizing a free eye camp at Chitrakoot. Despite difficulties and absence of basic facilities, 950 cataract surgeries were done through the camp. Following this, similar eye care activities were undertaken across the length and breadth of India. These efforts gradually converged into forming an institution and in the year 1968 SNC eye clinic was established under Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust.
Over the years, SNC has grown from strength to strength. Today, it is recognised worldwide as the largest rural eye care provider and for its high volume and high quality of comprehensive eye care services. A team of more than 120 full time ophthalmologists perform more than 130 000 ophthalmic surgeries annually at Chitrakoot. Key features at SNC include: 1. Serving more than a million patients every year, 2. Performing more than 800 refractive procedures annually, 3. 25 modular operation theatres, 4. 3,500 rural outreach eye screening camps annually, 5. 58 vision/primary eye care centers, 6. 2.5 million surgeries since inception, and 7. Assured standardized quality care, across all the strata of society.
