Ludhiana, January 6
Dr Navjot Singh Chugh (MBBS) MD (ophthalmology), a leading eye surgeon of Ludhiana who has worked as consultant ophthalmologist at the local Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and Hans Raj Jain Eye Hospital, and is engaged in private practice since 2001 in Model Town, believes that revolutionary advances in eye surgery have come as a boon for mankind. Gone are the days when cataract spelt doom for human beings. Eye surgery today is not only less complicated but also has an amazing success rate.
In an exclusive interview with Ludhiana Tribune, Dr Chugh dwelt on various aspects of eye treatment and issues confronting a layman. Excerpts from the interview:
Q. What are the major changes in the field of eye surgery and treatment over the past few decades ?
Ans. The advent of intraocular lens implants, phacoimulsification systems, excimer lasers and newer drugs for glaucoma have revolutionised eye surgery and treatment over the past few decades.
Q. What line of treatment was followed in cataract cases when lens implant was relatively unknown ? What are the benefits of lens implant ?
Ans. Before the advent of lens implants, conventional cataract surgery involved removal of the cataractous lens (by intracapsular method) followed by prescription of thick glasses (>_ +10.00 D). The quality of vision with these glasses was quite unacceptable. Modern implants provide excellent quality of vision with little or no dependence on glasses.
Q. Despite major advances in science, poor patients, especially in villages, end up losing their eyesight after surgery in eye camps. Why is this so?
Ans. Eye surgery in camps has its own limitations. Quality gets compromised because of high number of surgeries in limited time. It is difficult to maintain a strict check on sterilisation in eye camps, because of high volume of surgeries. Improper personal hygiene and bad surroundings also result in higher incidence of post-operative infection in such patients.
Q. Lasik appears to be the latest technique in eye treatment. Is it for a specific age group ? What are its benefits and side effects ?
Ans. Lasik is modern technology's gift to patients having impaired vision because of refractive errors (myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism). Lasik is the fastest growing vision correction procedure ever performed and has helped millions of men and women worldwide to eliminate their dependence on corrective eye wears (glasses and contact lenses). Lasik is usually performed in patients over 18 years of age with a stable refraction. Lasik is completely successful in avoiding the need for glasses in an overwhelming majority of people (>96%). Rare risks include corneal ectasia, flap complications, risk of infection etc. With the advent of lepto lasik or thin flap lasik, the risk of corneal ectasia has been taken care of because we leave a thicker corneal bed after treatment. Also there is possibility of treatment later in life.
Q. Is over-exposure to TV and computers harmful to eyesight ?
Ans. Overexposure to TV and computers can lead to eye strain, headache and a higher incidence of dry eyes. It has, otherwise, no role in impairment of vision.
Q. What precautions are needed to maintain healthy eyes ?
Ans. We can maintain healthy eyes by avoiding exposure to dusty environment, using glasses (UV protectors) in bright sunlight, eating food rich in antioxidants, strict control of diabetes and hypertension and regular eye check-ups for detecting refractive errors, glaucoma, diabetic changes etc.
