Bengaluru :
At the ripe age of 110, Muniyappa is brimming with life. Unlike his peers, he’s not dependent on others. However, a couple of months ago, he began to complain of impaired vision.
Reason: Cataract, a common eye ailment among the elderly . But thanks to a surgery he underwent recently , the supercentenarian has regained his eyesight.
Old age may mean befriending a walking stick and getting used to blurred vision. However, many have got their sight back in their 90s, because of advancement in medical science.
Muniyappa, who underwent the cataract surgery at St John’s Hospital, is not alone. At Sankara Eye Hospital, over 24 patients aged above 90 have been operated upon since 2013. Most recently, a 91-year-old male patient underwent a surgery to correct a retinal disorder on August 13. Doctors say complications are more when it comes to geriatric patients.
About a year ago, Muniyappa underwent an angioplasty . All was well till cataract clouded his lens and led to blurred vision. Doctors suggested an operation.”With age, the risk increases. He was on blood thinners, so performing the surgery was even tougher, said Dr Mary Varghese, head, vitreo-retinal surgery and associate professor, St John’s Medical College.
An experienced surgeon, she recalled the tense moments she had in the operation theatre. “Since he’d suffered from cardiac ailments in the past, we couldn’t stop him from taking blood thinners. They prevent blood from clotting, which can lead to bleeding during surgery . I was very careful while operating on him. After it was over, I heaved a sigh of relief,” she said.
Muniyappa’s son Krishnamma M told TOI he is able to see clearly . “He has been asked to wear protective glasses,” he said. Muniyappa’s wife Nanjamma, 90, too underwent the same surgery on the same day .
Of the patients operated upon at Sankara Eye Hospital, most suffered from age-related disorders; cataract being the majority (50%), said Dr Kaushik Murali, president, medical administration, qual ity and education. “Other conditions included age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), lid anomalies and tearing and glaucoma,” he said.
Dr Rohit Shetty, vice-chairman, Narayana Nethralaya, recalled operating on a 100-year-old woman in 2005. The team has to factor in aspects like age. “There are chances of dryness and a delayed healing.Complications like bleeding and haemorrhage may also happen,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bengaluru / by Sunitha Rao, TNN / September 01st, 2015