Highly innovative first-of-its-kind surgery performed at LVPEI

Patients with impaired or absent corneal sensations are at lifetime risk of developing corneal blindness due to neurotrophic keratitis. Until recently there was no permanent cure to this problem which can eventually lead to vision loss and cosmetic disfigurement. Corneal re-innervation is a recent and innovative surgical modality wherein a healthy donor nerve is transplanted into the cornea of the patient's eye to re-establish the corneal sensation. For the first time, this highly advanced and innovative surgery was performed at LVPEI, involving inter-disciplinary teamwork between corneal, oculoplastic, and plastic surgeons. A total of six such surgeries were carried out on 9 November 2019 at LVPEI Hyderabad.  The most common causes for this problem are viral infections (e.g. Herpes zoster, Herpes simplex), head and neck injuries, Space occupying lesion in the brain and or spinal cord, post-surgical neurological deficits that potential damage the (trigeminal) nerve that supplies the sensations of eyes and face.

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