Cornea in the focus

Manama : Conical cornea has been identified as the most common reason for corneal transplantation in Bahrain, with one of its unique causes being sleeping with contact lenses, a recent study said. 

The findings by Dr Nada Al Yousef, Ophthalmic and Lasik consultant at the University Medical Centre of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Medical City, further claims that Conical cornea accounts for 41 per cent of the total number of cases recorded. 

She also reveals that corneal infiltration after cataract operations accounted for 22pc of the cases, while permanent scarring caused by trachoma made up 11pc of the total cases studied. 

The study also highlights bacterial infections as 10pc of the reasons, which includes severe infections leading to punctures or permanent haze in the cornea.

Other reasons that led to corneal transplants were: repeated corneal transplantation due to the failure of the previous transplant  (7pc), injuries resulting in a loss of corneal transparency (4pc) and viral corneal infections (3pc). The rate of corneal lining disintegration did not exceed 1pc, the study claims. 

The findings will be presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Conference held in Los Angeles, the USA from 5 to 9 May. 

Explaining further, Dr Al-Yousef said that one of the most avoidable common reason for corneal transplants is bacterial infections, “especially those resulting from the misuse of contact lenses.”

“Studies have shown that sleeping with contact lenses on is one of the most common causes of corneal infection,” she said. 

She, however, warned that even though corneal transplantation is now one of the most successful organ transplants in the world, in some cases the body rejects it leading to transplant failure unless immediately
treated.