Kathmandu, Apr.7

Do you have a weak eye sight but, still, don’t like to wear glasses? Don’t worry. The Tilganga Eye Hospital has installed the latest technology to conduct the laser eye surgery.

More important is the fact that the Nepalese will be enjoying the facility at the lowest cost in the world, while the people from remote parts will get the service free of cost.

Tilganga Institude of Ophthalmology (TIO) Sunday started Humanitarian Laser Eye Surgery for people suffering from ‘Refractive Error’.

The surgery is focused on eliminating glasses for people who do not want to wear them.

The laser eye surgery is for the correction of refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The procedure involves reshaping of the cornea, changing its focusing power, which results in improved vision.

Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, in collaboration with London Vision Clinic, USAID and Himalayan Cataract Project started the Laser Eye Surgery Unit with ultramodern technology-Small Incisional Lenticular Extraction (SmILE).

Nepal is the second country using such an ultramodern facility. London Vision Clinic has also been using this technology.

Two TIO staff members Dr. Kishore Pradhan and Gopal Karmacharya were trained in London for the service.

According to the TIO, a large number of youths of professional working age are going to India, Thailand and other countries for refractive error treatment. Refractive error is one of the major causes of blindness.

According to the estimation of World Health Organization, around 1.3 billion people are victimized by refractive error across the world. Among the blind people, 43 per cent are suffering from refractive error.

Presently around one million children of below 16 years of age, 1.1 million people of (16-35 years) and 3.7 million of above 35 years of age are suffering from type of refractive error, the WHO stated.

Around one million school age children who are suffering from refractive error need glasses. For the complete and permanent eye sight the laser technology will support them and student will free from the worry of wearing glasses.

On the other side, as the service is available for a very low cost and is safe, people from North and East India, Western China, Bhutan and Middle East will visit Nepal for the treatment. It will support medical tourism in the near future, the TIO said.

Dr. Dan R, brand ambassador of the technology company, said this service was essential for youths of the developing countries.

The TIO has been providing a community based model service for people residing in far flung areas of the nation, Dr. Dan said.

According to Dr. Kishore Pradhan, previously, the TIO had provided refractive error surgery in 2003 to 2006 with the help of old technology.

The service was not available here from 2006 after the machine went out of order, Dr. Pradhan said.

Comedian duo Haribansha Acharya and Madankrishna Shrestha inaugurated the service in TIO Saturday.