Manipal: The doctors at Kasturba Hospital transplanted cornea successfully.This was made possible by the donation of the cornea by a brain dead patient as his family consented for eye (cornea) donation.

This was then transplanted on to Lalithamma (Name changed) aged 65 years from Davangere, under the leadership of Dr Vijaya Pai H, professor and head of unit 1, department of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Hospital Manipal.

Dr Vijaya Pai said that the surgery was quite successful and the patient was recovering well and was able to see properly.

There is acute shortage for cornea as only 20% of the people with cornea related blindness are able to receive transplantation. One more important factor in cornea transplantation surgery is that it is very much simpler as compared to the other organ donation and transplantation. The only solution to the problem faced by people with cornea related blindness is in ‘Pledging and Donating’ eyes after lifetime.

Dr (Col) M Dayananda, medical superintendent and COO Kasturba Hospital, Manipal said, “Eye bank with all latest equipment and manpower has been recognised under legal and statutory requirements. Functioning under the department of Ophthalmology, The Eye Bank at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal is one of the oldest in the state and it is authorized to treat corneal conditions requiring corneal transplantation at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.”

“The cornea transplantation is performed in a very cost effective manner at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal,” he said.