Manipal: Nayak’s (name changed) fervent prayers in the recent past, has only been that he should not be a burden to his wife and children. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with advanced stage glaucoma.
Glaucoma is known as the ‘sneak thief of sight’. There are often no indications of the disease till significant, permanent loss of vision has occurred. He underwent multiple treatments including surgery and medications, but they failed to bring down the pressure inside the eye (intra ocular pressure) which was the main cause of his glaucoma. His options were dwindling along with his vision and he soon became blind in one eye.
Then, Nayak visited the Kasturba Medical College & Hospital, Manipal two weeks ago, where he underwent a surgery for his other remaining eye. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neetha K.I.R, who completed her glaucoma speciality fellowship at Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital, Bengaluru and obtained advanced training at Regensburg University Hospital, Germany.
Following the surgery, Nayak’s vision has been retained and the pressures reined in. He also has access to Occupational Therapy at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, that helps rehabilitate people like him who have advanced vision problems.
Ahmed glaucoma valve is a device designed to bring down the intra ocular pressure. It consists of a silicon tube and plate. The tube is placed inside the eye, diverts the intra ocular fluid outside the eye to a reservoir around the plate, thus bringing down the pressure. The surgery to implant this device is complex and not easily available in the coastal belt. “Ahmed Glaucoma valves are traditionally implanted in eyes with previous surgical scarring and also in complicated conditions such as neovascular glaucoma, uveitic glaucoma etc. The success rate of AGV surgery is better than the conventional glaucoma surgery i.e. trabeculectomy, in such refractory cases,” says Dr. Neetha K.I.R, assistant professor and Glaucoma specialist at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.
Dr Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent Kasturba Hospital, Manipal said, “Patients no longer need to travel to Bengaluru or other cities to get this advanced glaucoma surgery done. This treatment will be available in Manipal for patients along the coastal belt at affordable costs.”
Dr. Neetha K.I.R can be contacted on Mondays from 2 PM to 5 PM, at Glaucoma Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal; Phone No: 0820-2922378
