A new technique for high astigmatism cases introduced by Prof. Amar Agarwal at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting
Chennai, 4th October, 2018 – Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Chennai today announced that they had carried out First in the world, a new innovative technique for high astigmatism cases. The new technique, ‘Pinhole Pupilloplasty’ is used during surgery is easiest, cost effective and yields high results, where the patients, who were nearly blind, got back their vision. Prof. Amar Agarwal, Chairman, Dr. Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospitalsintroduced this unique technique at European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting after successfully treating patients in India. He also advised the Global Ophthalmic surgeon community to follow the technique for best results.
The transparent front part of the eye, Cornea plays an important role in focusing vision. However, cornea can be damaged due to various reasons including injuries, exposure to explosions, post eye transplantation or surgery or due to conical cornea called Keratoconus. Such affected patients have high astigmatism in their eyes of about 20 Diopter.
Astigmatism is the refractive power in one direction, which prevents from focusing clearly on the retina. This is the common reason for the corneal scar or the surgery induced visual blur. A normal eye can manage an astigmatism of about 3-4 dioptres. With astigmatism as 20 dioptres, the patient fails to attain clear vision.
For the first time in the world at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital initiated a new technique called ‘Pinhole Pupilloplasty’. The technique to make the pupil, which is the diaphragm of the eye to 1.5 mm or less. The objects become clear even with 20 d of astigmatism as the rays of light, which are in the periphery, cannot pass into the eye. Only the central rays passing through the 1.5 mm of pupil pass into the eye. Therefore, the quality and depth of focus of the rays on the retina is improved by the pinhole effect.
Prof. Amar Agarwal, MS, FRCS, FRCOphth, Chairman, Dr. Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospitals said, “Pinhole Pupilloplasty is the new method to manage patients with high astigmatism. There are various methodologies for treating a damaged cornea, but we decided to make the pupil a pinhole about 1.5 mm. This is done with a single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty technique. Patients who have eyesight of 6/60 or below gains eyesight of 6/12 or better immediately after next post-operative. Patients with high 20 diopters of astigmatism, with this pinhole pupilloplasty regains normal eye sight. Any procedural technique can be followed but the principle remains the same, making the eye a pinhole. Therefore, the technique is the ‘Pinhole pupilloplasty’ or PPP.”
By performing this procedure, the patient can avoid further complicated procedures which otherwise are performed to correct post corneal injury scar induced visual loss or post corneal transplantation visual blur. ‘Pinhole pupilloplasty’ does not require additional surgical instruments or devices and it is easy to learn and perform. The ‘Pinhole pupilloplasty’ procedure thereby reduces the overall cost of surgery and complications due to second surgical intervention. Moreover, any pupilloplasty procedure as per the surgeon’s expertise can be used to obtain the pinhole size pupil. Furthermore, the quality of clear vision always keeps the patient satisfied.
