Intel Technology Helps Stop Blindness In India

Posted by Andrew Meyer on May 18, 2007

Intel is providing equipment and funding to combat blindness and eye problems in rural India. They are doing this in coordination with UC Berkeley’s Intel Research Lab and India’s Aravind Eye Care System.

Intel is providing Aravind with high-speed wireless videoconferencing technology which will allow Aravind ophthalmologists located in vision center hubs to assess and diagnose patients in distant Aravind eye clinics. Wildnet, which I covered in my previous post, will be responsible for the high-speed wireless connection and off-the-shelf software will be responsible for the videoconferencing technology.

There is an estimated 15 million people affected by blindness in India stemming directly from cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The Aravind Eye Care System addresses this problem by offering affordable eye care to low-income patients. Nearly 70% of its patients live in rural South India, where there is an acute shortage of ophthalmologists. Two-thirds of Aravind’s services are provided free of charge.

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