Ambati pitches for better facilities to treat eye problems

With a view to improve cataract and cornea-related treatment in the city,Dr Balamurali Ambati,a renowned cataract and cornea specialist,said efforts are on to get advanced techniques to Pune. Ambali was speaking at a conference organised by the K K Eye Institute.

Ambati,who is in Pune from April 17 to 22,is an associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and director of corneal research at the University of Utah School of Medicine. “I have been interacting with a lot of children for the past few days,who,due to the lack of proper treatment at the correct time,have lost their vision. Our aim will be to ensure that more children do not lose their vision for reasons like this,” said Ambati,who graduated at 17,and is considered the youngest person to do so.

“During his visit to the K K Eye Institute,Ambati will provide intensive training to ophthalmologists on the latest techniques of phacomemulsification and corneal transplants through one-on-one operation theater sessions,lectures and a workshop on the latest techniques in cataract and cornea. The unique keratoprosthesis procedure,performed as a last resort on patients with corneal problems,will also be carried out by Ambati,” said Renu Wadhwa,CEO,K K Eye Institute.

The main technology that they want in Pune is artificial cornea. “Even if it is an expensive technique,we can always find manufactures here who can produce the same technology at a affordable cost,” said Ambati.