LUCKNOW, Oct. 8 -- The Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) will upgrade its Ophthalmology department by next month, spending Rs 5.26 crore. The institute will be the third government centre, after SGPGI and KGMC, to get a modern Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine. The OCT machine helps doctors diagnose eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and eye tumours with great accuracy. It creates detailed images of the retina and other parts of the eye without touching the eye. Prof CM Singh, the institute's director, said other equipment like a Green Laser, optical biometer, USG micro-biopsy, and Phaco machine will also be added. The tender process is underway, and the machines should arrive by October. Currently, patients go to other hospitals or private centres for these tests, which cost between Rs 3,500 and 4,000. After the upgrade, the tests will cost just Rs 500, making it more affordable for patients. The OCT machine alone will cost around Rs 1.80 crore....