PATIALA:Dr Gursatinder Singh, an eminent eye surgeon working in the Government Rajindra Hospital, here Tuesday said that the damage caused to the eye because of glaucoma was irreversible. However, medication or surgery, traditional or laser, could slow-down any further vision loss. Therefore, early detection was essential to limiting visual impairment and preventing the progression towards blindness.
Speaking at a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme organized under the aegis of the Patiala Academy of Ophthalmology by Aromed Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the Patiala Eye Hospital and Lasik Laser Centre, he said that glaucoma caused progressive damage to the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual information to the brain and if left untreated glaucoma progressed to gradually worsening visual damage and could lead to blindness. He said that once incurred visual damage was mostly irreversible and this had led to glaucoma being described as the “silent blinding disease” or “the sneak thief of sight.”
Dr Singh said intraocular pressure was a "risk factor" for glaucoma together with other factors such as racial ancestry, family history, high myopia and age. There is no clearly established difference in glaucoma incidence between men and women.
Dr Ranjit Singh Dhaliwal, an eye surgeon from Nabha, a pioneer in small invision cataract surgery north india. said that SICS is the surgery for the comman man as it does not cost much,though the surgeon's skill involved has to be good.results were as good as any machine surgery world over.
Dr Balbir Khan, from the Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, highlighted the management of retinoplastry during the coming times.A large number of practicing doctors from Patiala and the surrounding areas participated in the deliberations.
The academic session was followed by a karaoke music competition in which Bollywood film songs relating to eyes and eyesight were played. It proved to be an icing on the proceedings of the evening wherein academics were blended with entertainment.
