First “two-in-one” combined corneal transplant carried out in southern region
The Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City announced the success of its first "two in one" eye surgery to simultaneously transplant the cornea and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens for a patient in the same surgery, on August 2.
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| This is the first time a combined corneal transplant has been performed in Cho Ray Hospital and the southern region. (Photo: plo.vn) |
Binh Thuan native, Bui Thi Hanh, born 1972, lost sight in her left eye after a corneal ulcer 15 years ago.
On July 20, Hanh went to Cho Ray in a state of cataract and scars on the whole corneal. Four days later, she underwent surgery to transplant the cornea and remove the lens, and at the same time set an artificial intraocular lens. Two weeks after the surgery, Hanh's health has stabilised and the sight in her left eye has been restored.
Hong said that corneal transplantation combined with placing an intraocular lens is a difficult procedure because the patient’s eyeball is open during the surgery, making it vulnerable as any a slight pressure on the eyes of the patient could cause them to be dislodged.
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Hanh’s eyesight has been restored after the "two-in-one" transplant. (Photo: plo.vn) |
The combined operation allows the patient to undergo fewer surgeries, while providing the best possible vision. If it were only a corneal transplant being carried out, the forced cataract surgery would be done after six months to one year. In addition, if the second surgery is not performed effectively, cracks can occur on the cornea transplanted before, Dr. Hong said.
Along with Hanh, another local patient from Ho Chi Minh City also went through the "two in one" corneal transplant. The corneas for the two surgeries were donated from a patient who had previously had a cardiac arrest.
