MUSCAT -- Twenty-five visually impaired Omani children will receive the precious gift of sight when they undergo corneal transplant operations in India in a project organised by the Al Noor Association for the Blind (ANAB) in coordination with the Ministry of Health. Their travel to India has been made possible by a donation of RO 25,000 by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) as part of its social investment programme.
ANAB has appealed for more donations to enable other children on the ministry's waiting list to benefit from corneal transplants and other procedures to augment the strength of their cornea. "Already, two children have been sent for treatment of the cornea and to have cornea transplant depending on the condition of their eyes. The next pair is being medically prepared for the procedure," said Dr Rajiv Khandekar, Ophthalmologist and Epidemiologist -- Low Vision Expert at the Ministry of Health, and Chairman of the Health Committee of ANAB.
Prior to their travel to India, the children undergo a thorough medical examination in the Sultanate. Accompanied by a relative each, the children are sent to the Desai Eye Hospital in India, which is committed to socio-economic rehabilitation of the visually disabled. Cornea transfer from the dead body is one of the safest methods to restore sight in visually challenged persons in need of such treatment, said Dr Khandekar. "Considering that there are no blood vessels in the cornea, the acceptance rate of transplant is very high as compared to other organ transplants. The only advantage of the eyes of a dead person is that it can save the eyes of two other people, provided the dead person's eyes are removed with six hours after death," he remarked.
Restoration of vision in this manner grants the recipient about 40 productive years, enabling their contribution to society and the economy, he added. Currently, Sri Lanka is the largest exporter of cornea because of the huge number of eye donors and the spiritual beliefs of the people in the country. In children, corneal damage is associated with lack of Vitamin A and measles attacks. "However, the major cause of cornea blindness in the Sultanate is repeated trachoma infection of the eyes particularly among the elderly. But in children, the major cause of visual disability in the Sultanate is hereditary," he said.
However, to address the issue of treatable visual impairment in the community, the ministry plans to set up an 'Eye Donor Clinic' in January 2009. ANAB is not only catering to the social support of the visually challenged, but is also focusing on preventive measures to combat controllable causes of blindness, said Barka al Bakry, Vice President, ANAB.
In response to the Association's request, PDO has donated RO 30,000 towards the provision of two diabetic screening laser machines in Salalah and another one at Ibri Hospital. "The equipment will be set up next month and will assist patients from distant places to seek medical attention at Al Nahdha Hospital to receive treatment closer to their place of residence. The project is designed to counter and reduce the number of people getting blind as a result of diabetes and lack of proper medical intervention," noted Al Bakry.
Besides, to speed up and reduce the number of patients getting blind due to delayed treatment and cataract surgery, the Association plans to train several doctors in this field. "So far, three doctors have completed their training course. The project has been funded by Al Kamil Power Company as part of its corporate human resource investment in training doctors in cataract surgery in India. Currently, the association plans to train 15 other doctors, provided we get more donors to the project." The project has also been organised by ANAB in co-operation with the ministry, remarked Al Bakry.
By Maryam Khalfan
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
