Making a visible difference.

For 27 years, Sankara Nethralaya has been providing world-class eye care to people of all socioeconomic levels in India. But the organization believes that there is more to eye care than just examination and treatment. Sankara Nethralaya also works to educate the public, disseminate research findings and provide community services -- goals that have become far easier since the organization harnessed the power of the Internet.

Through its Web site, the organization informs the public about its services and provides information about common eye ailments as well as the latest research in vision care. The site also enables interactive communication with patients by providing e-mail addresses so patients can ask doctors questions and an online form for setting up appointments.

Beyond the Web site, Sankara Nethralaya uses its Internet connectivity to broaden its reach to other medical professionals and to patients in rural areas. Its videoconferencing capabilities allow staff members to take classes without having to travel to different cities -- saving valuable time and money. Videoconferencing also allows staff to provide second opinions for eye care professionals throughout India and telementor procedures and surgeries. In addition, Sankara Nethralaya uses a mobile van equipped with videoconferencing capabilities to provide high-quality eye care to patients in remote areas.

“The world is one family. We need to keep ourselves connected with this family because we are interdependent. The Internet and .ORG offer us two of the most potent tools to maintain and grow this interaction,” says Akila Ganesan, manager of development for Sankara Nethralaya.

www.sankaranethralaya.org