Ophthalmology care major Narayana Nethralaya has successfully conducted an artificial cornea implant. The hospital in Bangalore has claimed that it is the first in the country to achieve this feat. There are only about 20 centres in the world which can conduct artificial cornea implant at present.

The artificial cornea technically known as 'AlphaCor' was an approved product of the US FDA. AlphaCor is biocompatible and a flexible artificial cornea designed to replace a scarred and diseased cornea tissue, stated Dr Bhujang Shetty, chairman Narayana Nethralaya.

Doctors opt for implantation of artificial cornea in patients who had multiple failed cornea transplants or for those whom a donor graft was likely to fail. AlphaCor's features are aimed at promoting retention, minimize post-operative complications and restore vision in patients who could not receive or were unlikely to have beneficial outcome from a human donor graft.

Developed by Western Australia's Eye Institute, AlphaCor is a biocompatible and flexible polymer with a sponge rim in which millions of pores are drilled by a special laser. The piece is placed on the eye where the cells and blood vessels grow in the holes and ensure the artificial cornea remains anchored. There is no fear of the body rejecting the tissue or need for extended use of systemic immune suppression because the cornea is artificial.

The surgery was performed in two stages. In the first stage, the AlphaCor was implanted into the cornea and a protective conjunctival flap was created. In the second phase, the flap was removed to allow the light to pass through the central clear zone to restore vision. The artificial cornea was imported from the United States which costs between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs. 3 lakh. The price could come down once the product was widely used across the country, stated Dr Shetty.

The recipients of the artificial cornea were two patients aged 17 and 61 and the surgery was performed free of cost because the company had offered it free of cost. The team of doctors who performed the surgery along with Dr Bhunjung Shetty included Dr Rohit Shetty, Dr Anand and Dr Himanshu.