Media Release
Udupi, Apr 12: “Kasturba Hospital, Manipal became the first hospital in the country to perform the Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) a week ago. The patient is progressing well. Dr Neetha K.I.R from the Department of Ophthalmology performed the surgery with a blade called Kahook Dual Blade. This blade is not easily available in India. We got it as a gift from Dr Jella An, director of Glaucoma Service at Mason Eye Institute, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia. This blade cost is around 400 USD,” said Dr Sulatha V Bhandary, head department of Ophthalmology.
She said said that the advanced surgery is not routinely available in India. “Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal is one of the first centre in India to offer it.
“Kahook Dual Blade surgery is a new innovation in glaucoma surgery. The procedure involves stripping of the trabecular meshwork with a blade inside the eye. Stripping this tissue leads to better outflow of aqueous (ocular fluid) and thereby lowering the intraocular pressure,” Dr Sulatha said.
This surgery can be done in selected patients following which they need not use anti-glaucoma eye drops every day. It is a boon to many glaucoma patients. Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve of the eye gets damaged due to the intraocular pressure in the eye.
Glaucoma is usually symptomless and the damage caused by this condition is permanent. The routine glaucoma surgery, trabeculectomy is very effective, but also has a high risk of complications. However, this new glaucoma surgery called Kahook Dual Blade surgery is less traumatic with fewer complications.
Kasturba Hospital, Manipal offers Glaucoma services under surgeons Dr Vijaya Pai H and Dr Neetha KIR who are trained in MIGS procedures and all other routine glaucoma surgeries. Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal congratulated the team for introducing and performing the advanced surgery for the first time in India at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. He said, “It will give hope to the glaucoma patients of Udupi and neighbouring districts.”