A senior citizen suffered a severe eye injury while playing badminton. His right eye suffered complete corneal damage and prolapsed intraocular tissues, leading to vision loss. Doctors at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital performed a complex surgery to restore his sight without a corneal transplant.
The surgical team used Pinhole Pupilloplasty (PPP) with multiple procedures in a single sitting. The surgery included full-thickness repair of the cornea and sclera, repositioning of prolapsed intraocular tissues, and artificial lens implantation to address a pre-existing cataract.
Pinhole Pupilloplasty, pioneered by Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal in 2018, reduces pupil size to enhance vision. It is used for corneal scarring, opacities, and high astigmatism. It can serve as an alternative to corneal grafting in select cases, reducing risks like infection and rejection.
Surgeons explained that corneal transplantation is usually required in such cases. It involves donor corneas and carries long-term complications. However, PPP provided a safer alternative.
Over 54% of eye emergencies in India result from trauma. Many cases lead to vision loss. Corneal transplants are common but may not fully restore sight, said Dr Ashvin Agarwal, Chief Clinical Officer.
Dr S Soundari, Regional Head – Clinical Services, added that the cornea is crucial for vision. Damage from injuries or diseases like keratoconus often requires transplants. But in this case, doctors repaired the cornea and sclera along with PPP, restoring vision in one procedure.
The surgery lasted about an hour. The patient regained full vision and is healing well. Doctors say PPP is cost-effective, easy to learn, and a revolutionary option for treating corneal damage without transplants.
