Regional Institute of Ophthalmology

Regional Institute of Ophthalmology

Description

Located around 4 km away from the main campus, RIO is housed near the General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. It was originated as a government ophthalmic hospital in 1905 and brought into the National Programme for Control of Blindness in 1995 as the autonomous Regional Institute of Ophthalmology although its location is other than at the Government Medical College. The institution is directed by Dr. P. S. Girija Devi. Post graduate courses in ophthalmology are offered, a four-year bachelor's degree course in Optometry is available with an annual intake of 20 students. The BSc.Optometry course was started in 2010.

RIO is India's second government controlled institute offering bachelor's degree in optometry. It hosts a well established optical outlet (in collaboration with HLL Life Care) with dispensing facility which is a first in Kerala. Specialized services including a retina clinic, paediatric ophthalmology clinic, low vision clinic, cornea clinic, glaucoma clinic, eye bank, tele ophthalmology, Uvea clinic, Dispensing Lab, Contact Lens clinic and a Cataract clinic. The first mobile eye hospital in Kerala, 'Sunayanam,' operates from RIO. A new super specialty building is being constructed opposite to the current building.