Ara Damansara Medical Centre (ADMC) is offering renewed hope to individuals affected by keratoconus, a progressive eye condition that can severely impair vision. Using KeraNatural, a sterilised donor corneal tissue, it was successfully performed on 10 July 2024 and became Malaysia’s and Southeast Asia’s first Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segment (CAIRS) surgery.
The introduction of CAIRS using KeraNatural is an innovative procedure which involves implanting segments of donor corneal tissue within the stroma, the middle layer of the cornea. The goal is to flatten the cornea, thereby improving the patient’s vision and offering a more sustainable alternative to other treatments.
“CAIRS represents a breakthrough in our ability to treat keratoconus. By using KeraNatural, we are not only providing a new treatment option but also offering hope to patients who may have been told that nothing more could be done for their condition,” explained Dr Ainur Rahman, a Consultant Ophthalmologist. “Unlike LASIK (laser eye surgery), which isn't suitable for keratoconus patients due to their weaker and thinner corneas, CAIRS is a safer and more effective option.”
“It opened up a new avenue for treatment that we are now seeing come to fruition with the help of advanced techniques and materials like KeraNatural.” However, conducting such surgeries in Malaysia is challenging. One significant hurdle is the limited availability of donor corneas. “Corneal donation is not as common in Malaysia as in other countries, which makes surgeries like CAIRS even more special,” Dr Ainur shared. “Each donor cornea is a precious resource that can change a patient’s life, and we must use it wisely.”
Dr Ainur's take home message is to be aware of these symptoms: blurred vision, excessive glare, light sensitivity, and poor vision that cannot be fully corrected with glasses. A delayed diagnosis could result in the necessity of a corneal transplant, which, like any transplant, carries risks such as infection, rejection of donor tissue, and a lengthy visual rehabilitation process - 5 December 2024
