Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
COIMBATORE: Sankara Eye Centre, an outreach eye care organisation here, says it has developed an indigenous model of laser treatment for keratoconus, an abnormal thinning of the front surface of the cornea (eye). The indigenisation will help in cutting the cost of the treatment and help in making it part of affordable eye care. The cornea bulges or becomes steep because of this condition. In some cases, this can lead to the scarring of the cornea. The cornea is the clear or transparent front section of the eye that covers the iris and pupil. The cornea allows the light to pass and even bend with its curvature. This provides the eyes with focussing or refractive power. Keratoconus causes moderate to very severe blurring of vision. One out of 2,000 persons is affected by this. A non-invasive and quick procedure to arrest the worsening of the problem involves the use of riboflavin eye drops on the cornea and ultraviolet light. Cross-linkingAccording to a press release from the centre, studies in Europe say the treatment has increased the amount of collage cross-linking in the cornea and helped in strengthening it. Cross-linking means the natural collagen anchors in the corneal tissue, says the release. A stronger cornea will not tend to become steep as in the case of a diseased one. The press release says that the centre has collaborated with an Indian equipment manufacturer to develop an indigenous model of the laser used in the treatment of the disease. This will bring down the cost of treatment by 75 per cent and make it affordable to more people. As of now, the cost is high because even the riboflavin drops have to be imported, says the centre. Some of the parameters of the treatment method worldwide have been modified. The results so far are matching, doctors at the centre say. The clinical applications are on and this is definitely as step towards making this area in eye care affordable. Contact lensDirector (Technical) at the centre J.K. Reddy has been collaborating with the researchers worldwide in developing specialised contact lens for keratoconus patients. The new treatment can arrest the worsening of the disease by taking it up in early stages. This will also help in avoiding a surgery later. The centre has made it clear that the procedure does not offer a cure for keratoconus, but can certainly arrest progression if treated in the early stage.
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