Cataract is the leading cause of treatable blindness in elderly people. Cataract refers to a condition where the human lens slowly loses its transparency and becomes opaque. Patients having cataract, experience blurring of vision and at times increased light sensitivity.

The stages of cataract are immature cataract, mature cataract and hypermature cataract. It is best to remove cataract in the immature stage as prolonging cataract surgery can result in damage to the cornea, increase in eye pressure and poor visual recovery. Uncontrolled diabetes is a risk factor for cataract development and progression. Keeping the blood sugar levels under control and using UV blocking spectacles could delay the development of cataract.

At Kamakshi memorial hospital we offer safe removal of cataract by sutureless technique called phacoemulsification, where lens is broken into small pieces by ultrasonic energy and aspirated through a small incision. This assures quick wound healing and excellent vision recovery in those suffering from vision loss due to cataract. At our centre, investigations like A- scan, Keratometry and B- scan are available which enables accurate pre-operative assessment and planning of cataract surgery. The surgery is done as a day care procedure and best quality intraocular lenses are offered to our patients at affordable packages.

Other types of conventional cataract procedures like extracapsular cataract extraction and small incision cataract surgery are also being performed.

Glaucoma is a disease which affects the optic nerve of the eye that carries signals to the brain. High eye pressure is the most common risk factor for developing glaucoma. It causes reduction in ones side vision, slowly affecting the central vision in late stages. The treatment aims in lowering eye pressure by drops, YAG laser peripheral iridotomy, laser trabeculoplasty and glaucoma surgeries. Early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment is the key to treating glaucoma

At Kamakshi memorial hospital we have the gold standard equipment for eye pressure measurement; Applanation tonometer and gold standard technology for visual field assessment which is Automated Humphery perimeter. We also offer a wide range of management options including eye drops, lasers and glaucoma filtration surgeries that helps in controlling the eye pressure thereby retaining vision in these patients

Refractive error is often under- diagnosed cause of defective vision in children. Refractive errors include short sightedness or myopia, long sightedness or hyperopia and astigmatism or cylindrical power. Presbyopia is the term used where once we reach 40 years of age our ability to focus near objects gets weak and one needs to wear glasses to focus near objects. Not using appropriate glasses results in eye strain, headache and blurred vision. In children it causes lazy eye, improper visual development and sometimes squinting

Our department offers accurate refractive error assessment with the help of electronic visual charts, automated refractometer, keratometer and retinoscopy in all age groups. We also offer assistance in contact lens training to our patients and provide refractive procedures like LASIK which corrects the power and enables one to be free of glasses.

The incidence of diabetes has been increasing over the past few years. Diabetic retinopathy is commonly seen to affect vision permanently in long term diabetics and in those with poor control if not treated early. It is broadly classified as non proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes in early stages patients might not have any blurring of vision. Hence annual retinal screening is recommended in all diabetic patients.

Here, we routinely screen for diabetic retinopathy as a part of our master health packages, diabetic in-patients and those attending our out- patient department. Once we determine the stage of diabetic retinopathy we provide appropriate management in the form of laser therapy and injections to improve vision. Being a multispeciality hospital it helps in comprehensive care of our diabetic patients where the treating diabetologist, nephrologist and ophthalmologist work as a team in bringing the diabetes under control which is key to treating diabetic eye disease and stabilising vision in these patients.

We routinely screen our preterm and low birth- weight babies for Retinopathy of prematurity and initiate prompt management. Also other retinal diseases like age related macular degeneration, uveitis and retinal vessel occlusions and its complications are being treated.

The availability of an in- house neurology speciality helps in effective treatment of problems affecting the optic nerve like optic neuritis, ischaemic optic neuropathy , papilloedema and vision problems secondary to brain injury. All facilities like perimetry, electrodiagnostic test like Visual evoked potential and CSF analysis helps in timely diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Common ocular surface and corneal problems like conjunctivitis, dry eye, progressive pterygium, corneal infections, keratoconus etc are assessed and timely treatment is initiated.

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva which covers the white of the eye. Conjunctivitis could be infective, which is commonly referred to as the 'Madras eye' or allergic, both these common conditions are duly diagnosed and treated here with appropriate eye drops.

Dry eye is broadly classified as secretory and evaporative. With the dawn of online era the incidence of evaporative dry eye has increased and with it symptoms like redness, watering and irritation. We assess the extent of dry eye and initiate appropriate therapy. Corneal infections could be bacterial, viral or fungal and could be vision threatening if not treated early. With the help of our microbiology department we are able to diagnose and initiate appropriate antimicrobial therapy in these patients.

Pterygium is a degenerative condition which progressively involves the cornea and causes cylindrical power and visual blurring. It is treated by excision and autografting which is a simple procedure.

Oculoplasty is the sub- speciality of ophthalmology where problems of eyelids, orbit and tear glands are treated. Lid swellings like chalazion can be treated initially by conservative measures and when they fail needs to be removed by incision and curettage. Thyroid eye disease and exophthalmos are assessed using VISA scoring and appropriate management is initiated in conjunction with our endocrinology and radiation department. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction can cause chronic watering in elderly and children which is being treated by a procedure called dacryocystorhinostomy, which can also be performed endoscopically as a scarless procedure.

MUCORMYCOSIS: The Covid pandemic presented challenges to every aspect of the medical field including ophthalmology. There was an increased incidence of rhino- orbito- cerebral mucormycosis, commonly referred to as the black fungus. We have been able to effectively treat the condition and restore function, cosmesis and life in these patients. Our multidisciplinary approach with Infective disease specialist, ENT, Oro faciomaxillary and neurosurgery team has yielded good success rates in the management of these patients.

Our emergency department handles a huge number of road traffic accidents and other trauma including ocular injuries. We have been able to address orbital fractures, chemical injuries and corneal foreign body secondary to ocular trauma and provide good visual outcome in these patients.

Other ophthalmic emergencies presenting with acute onset of visual loss like central retinal artery occlusions, optic neuritis and corneal infections are also effectively managed.