ISLAMABAD, June 17: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) will establish Scientific Ophthalmology Laboratory at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, with an amount of Rs35 million.

The project is part of the LUMHS’ overall uplift plan aimed at conducting diagnosis and research at the university.

The university has been recently upgraded to the status of a public-sector medical university. The project would open vistas for research and human resource development in the advanced and emerging areas of ocular diseases.

Ophthalmology has rapidly advanced (within two decades) in the diagnostic and management technologies of various ocular diseases. At present, Karachi is the only place in Sindh where such facilities are available. It has become increasingly difficult for majority of interior Sindh patients to get treatment in Karachi due to high cost of living and treatment.

The laboratory set up by the HEC will provide educational facilities, training and treatment to all those coming from interior Sindh. The proposed laboratory will provide active learning and training to the postgraduate candidates of DO, MS, MCPS, FCPS and PhD under the umbrella of advance equipment.

The laboratory set up by the HEC will also help determine the role of vitrectomy in restoring the vision in vitreo-retinal diseases.

LUMHS will increase enrolment of postgraduate DO, MS, MCPS and FCPS medical students and researchers for conducting high quality research in various blinding ocular diseases with the help of latest technology and ultimate management.—APP