First ophthalmology training center opens in Indonesia

Bandung, Indonesia-Micheal Kaschke, PhD, director of Carl Zeiss AG and chairman of the supervisory board of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, opened the first training center for ophthalmology at the Cicendo Hospital in Bandung, Indonesia as a part of the Vision 2020 Initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020.

With the help of Gullapalli N. Rao, MD, president of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and representative of the Indonesian government, the goal is to eventually make high-quality eye treatment available and affordable to millions of people, according to Dr. Kasche.

Keeping in mind the population size, extent, and gravity of eye diseases; existing training programs; and available resources, this relief organization selected Indonesia as the location for this eye center. There are 600 eye specialists and 2,200 qualified medium-level medical personnel.

 Approximately 40,000 cataract operations are performed each year.

The $200,000 donation from Carl Zeiss will be used for training staff and equipment. Some other donations included several systems for diagnosis, treatment, and aftercare, including slit lamps, treatment lasers, and a surgical microscope. Carl Zeiss will be supporting training centers in five regions within the next 5 years.