Oman: Al Nahda Hospital successfully performs first anterior partial corneal transplant

First Partial Corneal Transplant performed at Al-Nahda Hospital

Muscat: A specialized medical team in the Eye Department at Al Nahda Hospital succeeded in performing the first anterior partial corneal transplantation for a 28-year-old patient with keratoconus, which took two and a half hours.

Dr. Haitham bin Hilal Al Mahrouqi, senior specialist in corneal transplants, cataracts and vision correction at Al Nahda Hospital, explained to the Oman News Agency that corneal transplants may be total or partial, but partial transplants have several advantages, including fewer complications and a faster recovery period after the operation.

He explained that the result of the body’s rejection of the transplanted cornea is less and the life span of the cornea is longer. There is a current global trend to perform this type of operation for the great benefits achieved, pointing out that not all cases can undergo a partial transplant, but some require a complete corneal transplant.

He stressed that performing this type of operation in the Sultanate of Oman reflects the competence of the Omani cadres, who are national cadres qualified to perform this type of operation and ensure the quality of health care provided to patients, noting that with the restart of corneal transplant operations 3 months ago, 25 corneas were transplanted. Previously, the transplantation performed was full corneal transplantation.

He pointed out that the cases that require partial corneal transplant operations are the presence of a disease in part of the cornea, such as scars in the cornea or keratoconus, or the presence of some genetic diseases, pointing out that the body’s rejection of a partial corneal transplant is at a lower rate of up to 5 percent compared to a total transplant. Which may reach between 15 and 20 percent, and rejection is due to other reasons, including the body’s acceptance, continuous follow-ups with the specialist doctor, and the proper use of the medication.

The National Organ Transplant Program seeks to localize the corneal transplant service in the Sultanate of Oman through the presence of an eye bank that collects and preserves corneas from donors within the Sultanate of Oman during the next five years to achieve self-sufficiency and provide this service in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and not be limited to the Muscat Governorate.

Restarting corneal transplant operations at Al Nahda Hospital contributed to achieving many positives, including localizing the service and achieving self-sufficiency in corneal tissue with the presence of qualified national cadres to perform this type of operation, ensuring the quality of health care provided to patients, and reducing sending cases for treatment abroad to the country. This aspect, in addition to saving time, effort and money.