When Navya M. was born three months ago, her parents discovered that she could not see through one eye. “People in our locality in Ponneri told us that nothing could be done. Our parents were upset too,” said M. Manikandan, her father. A private doctor however, referred them to a city hospital, where doctors said a surgery would be possible.
Last week, doctors at Rajan Eye Care Hospital gave Navya a cornea transplant and reconstructed the front portion (anterior segment) of her eye. The child was born with Peters Anomaly, a relatively rare congenital abnormality in which the cornea is opaque, the iris may be stuck to the cornea and the front portion of the eye is disorganised, said Mohan Rajan, chairman of the hospital.
“Peter’s anomaly can occur in both eyes too, but in this case, only one eye was affected,” said Sujatha Mohan, executive medical director at the hospital, who performed the surgery.
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The baby was otherwise fine — a full check-up was done ahead of the surgery, said Dr. Rajan. “Her lens is clear now, and her retina too is normal, and we expect her to have about 60 to 70% vision in the operated eye,” said Dr. Rajan. Navya’s eye though, will have to be stimulated with exercises for it to regain full functionality, he said.
For Navya’s parents, the surgery has come as a huge relief. Apprehensive before, they are now happy their child will be able to see, her father said.