Journalism of Courage

PGI innovation using Braille in an artificial eye wins National award

Braille-embedded ocular prosthesis helps a visually impaired child gain independence

By: Express News Service
Chandigarh | December 21, 2025 01:03 AM IST

3 min read

PGIMER, Oral Health Sciences Centre, OHSC, Braille, maxillofacial prosthetics, custom ocular prostheses,

The award-winning work focused on integrating Braille script into custom ocular prostheses, commonly known as artificial eyes. (File photo)

A simple yet path-breaking innovation from PGIMER’s Oral Health Sciences Centre (OHSC) has earned national recognition for improving independence among visually impaired children. A research project led by Professor Sudhir Bhandari from the institute’s Unit of Prosthodontics won first prize in the faculty presentation category at the 53rd National Conference of the Indian Prosthodontic Society held in Navi Mumbai earlier this month.

This is the first reported use of Braille in the field of maxillofacial prosthetics, making the work a significant milestone in patient-centred rehabilitation. This work was jointly done by Dr Bhavita Wadwa, associate professor, OHSC; Dr Usha Singh, professor, department of Ophthalmology; and Dr Manisha Khanna, senior research fellow, OHSC.

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The award-winning work focused on integrating Braille script into custom ocular prostheses, commonly known as artificial eyes, to help patients with complete visual impairment identify and correctly orient the prosthesis on their own. The innovation was developed for a six-year-old child who lost vision in both eyes following treatment for retinoblastoma and had been struggling to manage the prostheses independently.

Doctors noted that despite using custom-made artificial eyes, the child frequently faced problems distinguishing between the right and left prostheses and inserting them in the correct position. This often led to discomfort and increased reliance on caregivers, besides the risk of injury to the delicate eye socket.

As the child was studying at a residential school for visually impaired students where Braille forms part of the curriculum, the prosthodontics team decided to embed Braille letters inside the prostheses. The tactile markings enabled the child to identify the correct prosthesis and orientation through touch, significantly reducing dependence on others.

Follow-up examinations conducted after 24 hours, one week, and six months showed no complications related to prosthesis placement or socket health. Caregivers also reported a marked improvement in the child’s confidence and ability to manage the artificial eyes independently.

Experts say the innovation demonstrates how low-cost, thoughtful design can address daily challenges faced by children with bilateral anophthalmia, a rare condition affecting about one in 20,000 live births. The national recognition, they added, reflects PGI’s focus on multidisciplinary care and practical solutions that directly improve patient quality of life.