New Horizons in Vision Care: Narayana Nethralaya Whitefield Expands Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology Services

BENGALURU – In a significant move to bridge the gap in specialized pediatric eye care, Narayana Nethralaya, Whitefield, marked its first anniversary today by inaugurating a dedicated Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Clinic and a state-of-the-art Ocularistry Lab. The expansion aims to provide a lifeline for children grappling with neurological conditions that hinder their ability to process visual information.

While vision is often taken for granted as a primary gateway to the world, children with conditions such as Autism, ADHD, traumatic brain injuries, and CVI face a different reality. CVI, in particular, has emerged as a leading cause of permanent visual impairment in children, where the issue lies not within the eyes themselves, but in the brain’s ability to interpret visual signals.

A Legacy of Integration: From Special Education to Mainstream Success

The new facility builds upon a proven track record. During the inauguration, Dr. Naren Shetty, Director of Narayana Nethralaya, highlighted the transformative power of integrated vision therapy.

“After successfully running similar programs at our other centers and treating 1.8 lakh children with neurological vision-related problems, nearly 20,000 children have transitioned from special schools to mainstream schools through our integrated approach,” said Dr. Shetty. “With this experience, we have now opened this center at our Whitefield branch so that more families can benefit and more children can lead independent lives.”

The ceremony, attended by Dr. Shetty and Mrs. Namratha Shetty, drew a diverse group of healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists. This multidisciplinary presence underscores the clinic’s philosophy: neurological visual impairment cannot be treated in a vacuum; it requires a collaborative ecosystem of care.

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Advanced Therapeutics and Functional Rehabilitation

The CVI Clinic is designed to go beyond standard eye exams. It focuses on “functional vision”—how a child actually uses their sight in daily life. By utilizing comprehensive assessments, the clinic develops customized rehabilitation programs tailored to each child’s specific neurological profile.

Dr. Harsha Nagaraja, Medical Superintendent at Narayana Nethralaya, Whitefield, noted that the center would offer cutting-edge treatments that remain rare in the Indian medical landscape.

“The center will offer specialized therapies such as syntonic phototherapy, currently available at only a few centers in India, along with treatment for amblyopia (lazy eye) and squint,” Dr. Nagaraja explained.

Syntonic phototherapy, or light therapy, is a non-invasive branch of ocular science used to balance the autonomic nervous system, which can be pivotal in improving visual field losses and processing delays in neuro-divergent patients.

Restoring Confidence through Ocularistry

Parallel to the CVI Clinic, the new Ocularistry Lab addresses the physical and psychological impact of eye loss. Whether due to congenital conditions, disease, or trauma, the loss of an eye can be a devastating blow to a patient’s self-esteem.

The lab specializes in the fabrication of custom-made ocular prostheses. Unlike “stock” artificial eyes, these custom prosthetics are meticulously hand-crafted to match the patient’s remaining eye, ensuring a natural appearance and proper fit. Beyond the aesthetic restoration, these medical devices are crucial for maintaining the structure of the eye socket and helping patients regain the confidence necessary for social reintegration.

A Comprehensive Vision for the Future

With these new additions, Narayana Nethralaya strengthens its position as a leader in holistic eye care. By combining advanced surgical expertise with long-term rehabilitative support, the institution is shifting the focus from merely “seeing” to “interpreting and interacting.”

For the thousands of families in Bengaluru’s tech corridor and beyond, the opening of this center represents more than just a medical expansion—it is a significant step toward independence and a higher quality of life for children who were previously left in the shadows of the visual world.

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