Corneal transplant surgery or Keratoplasty carried out on a Kenyan patient affected with Keratoconus, a corneal distortion, was a success, according to a release by the Little Flower Hospital (LF).
Keratoconus, which is the most common reason for corneal transplant surgery in children aged between 12 and 18, had been troubling the 30-year-old Morris Gattuna for the past few years. Gattuna, dissatisfied with the service in the hospitals of his native town, had come to LF this past week and undergone the surgery.
Dr David Puthukkadan, who did the corneal transplant surgery (Keratoplasty) said that Guttuna, who had only five percent vision when he came over, is now fully cured.
For the transplant, the cornea of a Keralite who had died in a road accident recently was used, said Dr David.
According to the notification, Gattuna’s father is a doctor. His mother is working as a nurse in Kenya. They had come to know of LF and its eye bank, which is one of the largest in India, from a Keralite pharmacist who is working at there.
According to Dr David, Gattuna’s was a severe case of Keratoconus. It is a disorder that affects the cornea resulting in progressive thinning and distorting of the cornea.
The cornea bulges forward to produce a cone like protrusion, resulting in progressive distortion and reduced vision. Gattuna, who incidentally came to the LF during the ‘eye donation fortnight’ observed across the world, returned happily saying that the fortnight has made his recovery memorable.
According to study reports, many families have been identified with the corneal disorder which ultimately affects eyesight. Use of contact lenses have also been suggested as a possible cause of Keratoconus.