Privacy Policy

1 Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways: information you provide directly to us, and information collected automatically when you use our website.

Information you provide directly:

• Full name, date of birth, gender
• Email address, phone number, postal address
• Academic qualifications, institution names, graduation years
• Professional experience and employment history
• Motivation statement and research/publication details
• Scanned copies of certificates, identity proof, and photographs (via the application form)
• Messages and enquiries submitted through the contact form

Information collected automatically:

• Browser type, operating system, and device type
• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Pages visited, time spent, and referring website
• Cookie identifiers (see Section 4)

2 How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected for the following lawful purposes:

• Processing and evaluating program applications (Residency, Fellowship, Observership)
• Communicating with you about your application status, interview scheduling, and admission decisions
• Sending program-related updates, batch schedules, and fee payment details
• Responding to enquiries submitted through the contact form
• Improving the website experience and understanding how visitors use our pages
• Complying with legal and regulatory obligations

3 Data Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share data only in the following limited circumstances:

• Faculty and admissions team: Internal staff involved in the admissions review process have access to application data on a need-to-know basis.
• Regulatory authorities: If required by law, court order, or a competent authority under Indian law, we may disclose information.
• Service providers: We may use trusted third-party tools (e.g., email service providers) strictly for operational purposes. These providers are bound by confidentiality obligations.

We will never share your sensitive personal data (academic records, identity documents) with any external commercial party.

4 Cookies & Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.

Types of cookies we may use:

• Essential cookies: Required for basic website functionality (e.g., remembering your form progress).
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand website traffic patterns using tools such as Google Analytics. This data is anonymised and aggregated.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of the website. The embedded Google Maps on our contact page is subject to Google's own privacy policy.

5 Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

• Application data: Retained for 3 years from the date of submission to facilitate future batch applications and audits.
• Enrolled students: Academic and clinical records are retained for 7 years as required for certification and regulatory compliance.
• Contact form enquiries: Retained for 12 months and then securely deleted.
• Website analytics: Aggregated and anonymised data may be retained indefinitely.

6 Your Rights

Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to erasure: Request deletion of your data where it is no longer required for the original purpose, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
• Right to grievance redressal: Lodge a complaint with us or the Data Protection Board of India if you believe your rights have been violated.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@Caringvisiontherapy.com. We will respond within 30 days.

7 Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted through this website
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only
• Secure storage of physical documents submitted with applications

8 Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services which have their own privacy policies:

• Google Maps: Used on our Contact page to display our clinic location. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
• Google Fonts: Font files are loaded from Google's servers. Google may collect limited usage data.
• WhatsApp (Meta): The WhatsApp contact button redirects to WhatsApp's platform. Any communication via WhatsApp is subject to Meta's privacy policy.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external services. We recommend reviewing their respective policies.

9 Minors

Our programs require applicants to hold a professional optometry degree (B.Optom / M.Optom), which means all applicants are adults (18 years of age or older). We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If we become aware that a minor has submitted personal data, it will be deleted promptly.

10 Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision. For significant changes, we will place a prominent notice on our website. Continued use of our website after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11 Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact our Data Officer: