Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Sep 13: Doctors at Prasad Netralaya here have succeeded in gifting eyesight to Jyotibai from Ballari district, who was born blind, and whose life was totally dark. This was possible with a miraculous surgical procedure.
Jyoti Bai got eyesight because of the availability of an eye from a donor all of a sudden on the day of the surgery. This happens to be a very rare case in the field of opthalmology and this was the first ever successful surgery in this sphere in coastal Karnataka, said managing director of Prasad Netrayala and ophthalmologist, Dr Krishnaprasad, addressing a press conference here on Tuesday September 12.
Jyoti Bai belongs to Kenchanagudda Tanda in Siraguppa taluk, Ballari district. She was blind by birth and member of Karnataka Welfare Association for Blind. Ophthalmologists have certified her to be permanently blind, and she is getting pension for the disabled from the government.
Jyoti Bai came to know about Prasad Netralaya here through Thimmaraya, a member of an organization for the blind. As a last resort, she came with her mother to the city on December 14, 2016. Dr Krishnaprasad, who tested her, said that an effort to give her eyesight can be made by replacing an eye but said that the procedures are costly and the surgery might cost Rs 40,000. The woman had gone back to Ballari to arrange for the money.
On August 13 this year, she came to Prasad Netralaya again, armed with a recommendation letter from minister, Pramod Madhwaraj. Treating the case on humanitarian grounds, Dr Krishnaprasad and doctor of the Netralaya, Dr Hariprasad, Okude, succeeded in conducting the surgery and giving her an opportunity to see the world. The two, who took this rare case as a challenge for their capabilities, conducted the surgery on August 14 in four phases, free of cost. They removed the useless eyeball of the lady and replaced the same with the eye donated by a person duly fixing a quality lense. On the next day, Jyoti Bai was able to see with the new eye she got.
Dr Krishnaprasad had sent her back to Ballari with suitable suggestions and warning. On Tuesday, she came back with her acquaintance, Thimmaraya, for follow up check. Dr Krishnaprasad said that there is positive development in the patient. Noting that Jyoti's other eye is still blind, Dr Krishnaprasad expressed confidence of setting it right in the coming days.
In the meanwhile, Thimmarayaya (39), who accompanied Jyoti in this trip, also expressed his desire to be able to see. Dr Krishnaprasad said he would try to give him sight if he cooperates in the procedure. Dr M C Modi, it is learnt, had treated Timmaraya's case as not treatable. So if Dr Krishnaprasad succeeds in his case, he would be achieving a new milestone.
Dr Hariprasad Okude said that about 40 lac people in India are blind, while eye donations are only about 35,000. He said that to fill this void, an attempt to spread awareness among the public about the need to donate eyes is being undertaken.
The case of making Jyoti Bai able to see happens to be one of the rarest in medical field, and first in coastal Karnataka. Generally, blind people need to be fitted with alternative eye within a year as the nerves connected to the eyes become useless thereafter. In the case of Jyoti Bai, the surgery was conducted successfully after 24 years, pointed out Dr Krishnaprasad, adding that this was a proud moment for his organization.