India’s First District-Level Corneal Transplant at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital
Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital has successfully completed a corneal transplant surgery, marking the first time such a procedure has been performed at a district-level hospital in the country. The surgery, which restores vision in patients suffering from corneal blindness, was performed on a 59-year-old native of Kovalam on the 24th of last month.
Corneal transplantation procedures are typically conducted only in select government medical colleges, the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology Thiruvananthapuram, and private eye hospitals. Performing this surgery at a district hospital marks a historic milestone. Hon. Health Minister Veena George congratulated the entire medical team for this remarkable achievement.
The patient had developed corneal blindness due to an injury sustained to the right eye during childhood. The donor cornea was sourced from the EBAC Eye Bank. Notably, this surgery, which typically costs several lakhs in private hospitals, was provided free of cost.
The Government had issued an order in 2023 permitting corneal transplant surgeries in district-level hospitals by qualified specialists. Accordingly, necessary infrastructure and facilities were established at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital. Equipment worth approximately Rs. 40 lakhs was procured to support corneal transplantation. After evaluation and approval by the Superintendent of the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, the hospital also obtained the required license from K-SOTTO to perform the procedure.
Corneal blindness commonly affects middle-aged individuals and workers, often due to infections following injuries to the eye. In such cases, corneal transplantation is the only effective treatment. Additionally, congenital corneal disorders in children and conditions like keratoconus in adolescents can also lead to corneal blindness, for which transplantation remains the primary remedy.
The initiative to establish cornea clinics and perform corneal surgeries at district-level hospitals aims to strengthen ophthalmology services under the Health Department. This will ensure that advanced eye care becomes accessible to common people at nearby government hospitals.
