RAWALPINDI - Almost 50 percent of the ophthalmic mid-level personnel or allied ophthalmic professionals working nation-wide have been trained by Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital institute of ophthalmology. Surgeon General/Director General medical Service Lt. Gen. Mohammed Rehan Burney stated this at the concluding ceremony of the two days first international conference for Allied Ophthalmic Professionals held at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital here the other day. The concluding session of the conference was chaired by Lt Gen. Rehan Burney, Surgeon General Pakistan Army. The chief guest also gave away shields and mementoes to the speakers of the meeting. Speaking on this occasion he lauded the role of Al-Shifa in the treatment of different eye diseases in the country. Lt General Muhammed Rehan Burney congratulated Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital for taking a lead as always in the right direction. He said Al-Shifa Trust has always taken initiatives towards improvement in the field of eye care services in Pakistan. The conference was convened by the National Academy of Paramedics, which is the hub of training for allied professionals in ophthalmology in Pakistan. The continuing medical education programme in the field of ophthalmology is very ably being run by Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology which is part of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals and it provides training to a wide range of personnel from post graduate courses for doctors to post fellowship programmes for ophthalmologists. The National Academy of Paramedics has the distinction of training approximately 50 percent the mid level ophthalmic professionals working at different levels in the country and also in the Gulf States. "This was the first time that a conference was held focusing on the subjects of professionals in allied ophthalmic sciences including optometry, refraction, Orthoptics, ophthalmic technology, and ophthalmic nursing." Said Dr Asif Kayani, one of the organiser and an eye specialist at Al-Shifa Trust Eye hospital The two day conference was well received by relevant sectors from all over the country as allied ophthalmic professionals from almost all major cities of Pakistan participated in the conference. Two very eminent personalities from Aston University United Kingdom, Professor Shahzad Naroo and Dr Frank Epergesi, also attended the conference. Professor Shahzad Naroo and Dr Frank Epergesi are well known figures in the teaching of optometry all over the world. Both have multiple publications and have also authored books in their subjects. The first day of the conference had scientific paper presentation with an impressive array of papers both from Pakistani professionals and foreign faculty. Views were exchanged followed by some very healthy discussions at the end of each session. The learned teachers from Aston University were deeply impressed by the level of knowledge and enthusiasm that they observed in all the delegates. The second day of the conference was reserved for hands-on workshops. Professor Shahzad Naroo conducted the workshop on "Contact Lens and Corneal Topography" and Dr Frank Epergesi conducted the workshop on "Orthoptics". Extremely pertinent knowledge and techniques were shared by the visiting teachers on these fields and the participants got the chance to get a hands-on experience in different techniques in the perfect forms.