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SINGAPORE, Mar 31, 2011 - (ACN Newswire) - At The Eye & Cornea Transplant Centre (TECTC), a subsidiary of Singapore Medical Group, a 39 year-old Taiwanese patient suffering from severe blinding conditions was the first person in Singapore to undergo a complex surgery involving a Boston Keratoprosthesis (Boston KPro) surgery together with ocular surface reconstruction with an amniotic membrane. This involved the reconstruction of the entire eye surface and replacement of the diseased cornea with an artificial cornea transplant. Boston KPro surgery is one of the most specialised and complicated surgeries for the eye, and is performed by only a few surgeons in the world.
Lin Yu Shan was blind in both eyes after developing severe ocular surface disease and cornea stem cell deficiency from Stevens Johnson syndrome four years ago. She had undergone three operations in the right eye and two operations in the left eye to scrape off the scar tissue. Despite this, she was still not able to see, and the condition in both eyes worsened progressively. In desperation, she looked to Singapore.
Dr Leonard Ang, the only ophthalmologist in Singapore and the recipient of the Singapore Clinician Investigator Award 2010, found that Lin required surgery urgently in the right eye as it was on the verge of melting and perforation. As her eye was severely damaged, a conventional cornea transplantation would almost certainly be rejected by the body and fail within two years of surgery.
After consultation, Dr Ang analysed that the best option to save Lin's eye and restore long-term vision was to reconstruct the eye surface and to replace the diseased cornea with an artificial cornea transplantation using Boston KPro. On 5 January 2011, he was the first surgeon in South East Asia to have performed the surgery. The four-hour surgery involved three procedures:
1. Ocular surface reconstruction - Dr Ang reconstructed the entire eye surface by removing all the diseased and scarred tissue. He then transplanted an amniotic membrane over the surface to restore a healthy eye surface.
2. Artificial cornea transplantation - The diseased cornea was removed and replaced with an artificial cornea, known as the Boston KPro.
3. Removal of her cataract
Within a week after surgery, the vision in Lin's right eye was restored and she was able to see for the first time in years. She could open her right eye fully and the less inflamed eye and cornea surfaces were smooth and stable.
Today, two and half months after surgery, Lin's right eye is comfortable and she can see well. She is able to return to her normal daily activities and is given a new lease of life.
About ocular surface reconstruction
Surgery for these severely damaged eyes usually requires extensive ocular surface reconstruction which involves removing the diseased and scarred tissue, and replacement of the surface with healthy tissue, such as amniotic membrane (derived from placental tissue). The amniotic membrane (derived from placental tissue) helps to promote healing and reduce inflammation and scarring.
About artificial cornea transplantation
An artificial corneal transplant is a new and improved method to replace the diseased cornea for these severe eye diseases, because it overcomes the problem of graft rejection associated with conventional cornea transplants. The Boston Keratoprosthesis is the best artificial cornea implant in the world.
About Singapore Medical Group Limited (SMG)
The Eye & Cornea Transplant Centre (TECTC) is managed under SMG. It is a fast-growing public-listed healthcare organisation which strives to innovate and build on a vision of providing evidence-based healthcare services through its Centres of Excellence, aiming to deliver the highest quality of care matched with stringent management and clinical standards. The Group has other numerous operating subsidiaries and partners in Singapore and overseas that continue to break new grounds in the provision of healthcare services. Incorporated in 2005, SMG received its ISO quality management system certification from Swiss and American accreditation bodies in 2007. SMG was also listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2009. For more information, please visit www.smg.sg and www.tectc.sg.
Contact:
Mathew Thomas
Vice President
Public Relations & Communications
Singapore Medical Group Limited
Email: vpprc@smg.sg
Mobile: +65 9068 7109
Topic: Clinical Trial Results
Source: SingaporeMedicine
Sectors: BioTech
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From the Asia Corporate News Network
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