Rare surgery to restore sight of two pak infants

Two children from Pakistan one aged four years and the other seven months born with complete loss of vision,were operated upon in AIIMS.

Written by Express News Service
New Delhi | July 12, 2012 01:55 AM IST

1 min read

Two children from Pakistan one aged four years and the other seven months born with complete loss of vision,were operated upon in AIIMS on Tuesday. Both children were born premature and diagnosed with a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). According to Dr R V Azad,chief of the R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences,This is a condition where the retina detaches from its right position due to abnormal developments in the blood vessels. The surgery we did was a delicate one,because of difficulties involved in managing the underdeveloped,fragile neonate retina. There are very few centres worldwide,which perform this procedure. AIIMS has already got referrals for the surgery from countries like Philippines,Singapore,Dubai and Bangladesh. Dr Azad said the childrens parents contacted AIIMS over Internet,after hospitals in Pakistan failed to diagnose the reason for their blindness. Doctors expect the boys vision to be restored within the next three to six months.