Amritsar, July 10
Providing solace to aged, disabled and diabetic people suffering from eye ailment
‘Watery eyes’ has emerged as the most common eye ailment in the recent times with nearly 10 per cent of eye patients suffering from this problem. And coming as a relief to the sufferers is a new laser technique giving new hope to the patients, particularly the aged, disabled and diabetic.
Explaining about the ailment, Dr Raman Mittal, Oculoplastics Specialist (Plastic Surgery of Eye) with Dr Om Parkash Eye Institute here, informs, “Watery eyes is a problem caused by blockage of the eye’s drainage system, wherein the naturally produced eye fluid in lacrimal gland that keeps the eye lubricated and then naturally drains out through the nose or the throat through the nasolacrimal duct fails to follow the natural course and results in pooling of tears, resulting in watery eyes or drooling of the fluid as tears.”
He further says that the problem of watery eyes is quite prevalent and fot about every 100 patients visiting the hospital for eye problems, at least 10 are those who complain of watery eyes and the same-number is among children too. It may be mentioned that the eye problem can be either congenital (from birth) or acquired. Its symptoms may involve eye discharge, sticky eyelids in the morning, swelling around the eyes spreading to the face and in acute cases, is painful also.
Talking about the new laser technique, Dr Mittal says, “The new technique of laser which had evolved in advanced countries some five years back, is now also available in the city, where a large number of ·people are suffering from the problem. “Laser DCR” is being preferred by patients afraid to undergo a corrective surgical (External DCR) procedure.”
The specialist further explained that in DCR surgery, a communication is made between the sac and the nose to bypass the nasolacrimal duct, which is obstructed.. In Laser DCR, this passage is made using an optical fibre that emits laser. .
“Laser has other advantages over the conventional technique. It involves no cuts, no bleeding or wound and above all, no scar. Besides requiring no bandage or eye patch, the patient is fit to resume his duties or lifestyle,” he said.
It was recently used on a few patients in the city and showed an encouraging 80 per cent success rate, said the eye specialist. Results show that this technique proves to be a boon for the aged and the disabled besides diabetics. The technique is beneficial for busy professionals too; whose work involves focused attention and early rehabilitation like computer operators, web and other designers, architects, writers, photographers and students. Such persons suffering from this problem prefer minimal invasive procedure of “Laser DCR” to get rid of the problem and quickly resume their normal lifestyle after the surgery
Laser is also being preferred by those who cannot go through conventional surgery due to the need of cuts, inconvenience and longer periods of healing.
However; the eye specialists advise pregnant women not to take the laser procedure, as not much data about its safety is available.
