Doctor ‘behind new vision’ gets CM award

Dr D Rajakannan, who has more than 16 years of experience in the field, won the award for the invention of the modified crutch glasses in 2012. Since then, his invention has come to the rescue of a number of patients who suffer from ptosis, a condition, which results in the drooping of eyes among close to 70 per cent of patients in the age group above 60-70 years. 

“I came up with the idea after I saw a patient with the condition. She was unable to see even after a cataract surgery. I made the crutch glasses with the material used for dental implants called veneer. She and many others benefitted from it,” he says. 

Among his other achievements are his stem cell transplant to ocular surface damage due to burns or other injuries. “I hit upon the idea after a colleague took me to TANUVAS where I saw a dog receiving treatment through stem cells transplant. I thought why not use the same for the cornea injury and restore eyesight,” he says. 

After pursuing MBBS from Annamalai University and MS from Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Dr Rajakannan has been constantly working on a socially conscious model of treatment. He has been regularly conducting screening camps among industrial workers to help them avail timely treatment.

“Eyesight-related conditions are a huge problem in our country and it strikes across income groups. I have been working on treatment methods that can benefit everyone.”