Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 31: The Department of Ophthalmology at GMC Jammu has once again demonstrated its dedication to excellence in eye care with the successful completion of two complex corneal transplantations today. These procedures, performed under the expert guidance of Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu, have brought renewed hope and vision to two male patients, showcasing the department’s continuous advancements in ophthalmology.
The first patient, a 55-year-old male suffering from pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, underwent a challenging penetrating keratoplasty in his right eye, along with pupilloplasty. Earlier, he had received a secondary scleral fixated intraocular lens (SFIOL) implantation at GMC Jammu. The recent procedure aimed to address corneal damage, providing long-term relief from visual impairment and significantly enhancing his quality of life.
The second patient, an 83-year-old male diagnosed with anterior staphyloma, underwent a complex penetrating keratoplasty in the right eye, combined with anterior staphylectomy. This intricate procedure involved the removal of the staphyloma, which had severely distorted his cornea, and replacing it with a healthy donor cornea. The surgery was critical in preventing further complications and restoring the patient’s sight.
This success was made possible by the prompt action of a 78-year-old resident of Talab Tillo, Jammu, who had pledged his eyes before his passing. His family contacted SOTTO J&K to facilitate the eye donation, and the organization coordinated with the GMC Jammu Eye Bank to ensure timely retrieval, transportation, storage and transplantation of the donor’s eyes.
The enucleation process was efficiently carried out by a team led by Dr Hans Raj Sharma, Professor and Managing Director of the Eye Bank, and Dr. Vijayta Gupta, Assistant Professor and Transplant Coordinator. The team included Dr Nalini Birpuri, Dr Manpreet Kour, Dr Simranjeet Singh and Dr Sushant Kharka.
The transplant surgeries were expertly performed under the leadership of Dr. Ashok K Sharma, with the dedicated support of postgraduates Dr Tapan Sharma, Dr Neharika Verma and Dr Swati Mahajan. The surgeries were further supported by the diligent efforts of the eye operation theatre staff, including Kamlesh Kumari, I/C OT Supervisor, and Ajay Sharma, OT Technician.