A symposium on the latest advances and the current practical pattern in Ophthalmology has been conducted by Apollo Eye Hospital at Hyderabad on March 13 and 14. About 350 delegates attended the symposium with 35 faculties from all over the country, sharing their experience in the field.

Dr Mallika Goyal, vitreo-retinal surgeon, Apollo Eye Hospital, Hyderabad said that injection of drugs into the eye is more effective and economical than the intravenous injection of large doses of the drug gruciclone.

According to Dr Ashish K Bansal, head of ophthalmology at Apollo Eye Hospital, with the advent of newer techniques for corneal transplantation, the requirement of quality donor tissue is not stringent, therefore the utilization of donor tissue could be increased.

He added, the modern technology is now accessible to all the ophthalmologists, including those in small towns. The modern cataract and laser refractive surgeries are able to give patients quality vision without the need of further using glasses or contact lenses.

Dr Lalit Verma of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi revealed that Macular Hole Surgery, a sophisticated and delicate surgical procedure to treat holes in sensitive part of eye called ‘Macular Hole’ has emerged recently. This eye disorder is seen in the aged causing loss of central vision.

There are a lot of complications associated to cataract surgeries, which are required to be tackled. Using photodynamic therapy and thermo therapy for treating age related macro degeneration is being observed, Dr Verma added.

From a debate on the emerging technologies in the refractive surgery, it was stated that the laser refractive surgery is more refined and other technologies like Phakic lens were also steadily gaining prominence.

The symposium also touched upon sutureless vitrectomy, which makes the surgery faster as no suturing is required at the end of the surgery. Patient experiences no pain, discomfort after the surgery. Recovery of the patient is faster through this surgery compared to the conventional vitrectomy.

The procedures such as radical optic neurotomy and sheathotomy are also recognized as new ways of surgeries for retinal vein occlusion. The event also covered areas such as glaucoma, paediatric ophthalmology including squint, refractive error etc.