Mehal P Rathore, a research associate with city-based Sankara Nethralaya Medical Research Foundation, has won the India Vision Institute (IVI) Essilor Optometry Wizard of the Year Award for 2018.

The announcement was made here on November 8 after the final of the three-round national quiz, held with the aim of bringing optometry practitioners, educators and students on a common platform and promote the need for constant skill and knowledge enhancement.

"Organising the national quiz gives IVI immense satisfaction. In addition to vision screening, awareness campaigns and issuing free spectacles for underprivileged communities... are also a priority for us," IVI CEO Vinod Daniel said, congratulating the winners and runners up.

The winner was awarded a purse of Rs 10,000 and certificate by IVI, an independent, not-for-profit registered trust established in 2012. According to the institute, it focuses on supporting and promoting eye health awareness, research, education and technological development in Indian optometry.