First Cornea Transplantation In Manipur at Shija Eye care foundation

22 Jan 2014

For the first in time in Manipur, Shija Eye care foundation has set yet another medical milestone by successfully performing cornea transplantation on a blind person due to corneal opacity on 21/01/14. The said patient, Khangembam Ningthemjao, age 68 from Keinou came with a case of corneal opacity blindness at Shija Hospital and was examined by Dr. Sachindra and decided to do the corneal transplant in the right eye.

The operation was performed by a team led by Dr. Sachindra Laishram Consultant Eye Surgeon of Shija Eye Care Foundation, Langol .The cornea was offered by Shri Shankaradeva Netralaya(SSN) Beltola, Guwahati which was transported by air. Cornea is harvested within four hours of death of the donor.

The two eyes donated by the donor can give sight to two corneal blind. Some organs in the body can be donated and transplanted. For example, cornea, kidney, lungs, liver, heart, bone marrow, skin etc. In India, more than ten thousand corneas are required for transplantation. Maximum corneal transplantation are done in South India. Screening for HIV, Hepatitis C & B are done before donation. Unlike the kidney transplantation, the rate of rejection is less. At Shija, the cost of cornea transplantation is approximately 30000 which is half the price of private hospitals in Metros.

Cornea is the rounded transparent portion of the eye through which the image passes to reach the retina for sight. When the cornea is opaque, the light of the image cannot reach the retina and the object is not visible. Corneal opacity may be caused by infection, trauma, malnutrition, etc. 20% of the blindness is caused by corneal opacity.

Right now, there is no functional eye bank in Manipur. Shija has initiated preparation for establishing eye bank in the state. Shija Eye Care Foundation has already sent one technician for training of eye banking and another counselor will also be sent shortly. Shija Eye Care Foundation appeals the general population to pledge for eye donation and gift sight to someone who need it. The donated eye will remain alive even after the body is buried or burned after death. Manipur Legislative Assembly has passed and adopted Transplantation of Human Organ Act 1994 in its sitting held on 25th March 1999.

Dr. Kh. Palin
Chairman cum Managing Director
Shija Hospitals & Research Institute,
Health City, Langol.