UNI

Bangalore, May 25: Narayana Nethralaya has become the first eye hospital in India to obtain technology to start intacs-corneal implants treatment for keratoconus. Keratoconus was a disease that caused progressive thinning of the cornea, the clear front position of the eye.

This condition caused outward pressures from within the eye and made the cornea to progressively bulge into a cone like shape.

Keratoconus rarely resulted in complete blindness, according to experts it did lead to corneal transplant in upto 20 per cent cases, Narayana Netralaya said in a release here on Tuesday. Intacs corneal implants provide a distinctive method to improve patient's vision, possibly suspend a corneal transplant.

Intacs were indicated for the correction of nearsightedness and astigmatism for patients with keratoconus, where contact lenses and glasses fail to provide suitable vision. The release said intacs corneal implants were safer alternative to a corneal transplant.

Placing intacs in the periphery of the cornea flattens the centre by restoring the natural dome shape of the cornea to improve vision.

This also helped patients who later go for corneal transplant by reducing complications. The hospital had already conducted three surgeries successfully. Patients had responded well to the treatment, the release said.