Visual impairment can have multiple causes. While many individuals find themselves visually impaired after mishaps or accidents, many genetically inherit certain eye diseases.
One such genetic disease is Brittle Cornea Syndrome, in which a person may experience tearing or rupturing of the cornea even after minor damage. With Brittle Cornea Syndrome, the outer layer of the eye, better known as the cornea, becomes excessively thin, making the eye easily prone to severe and irreversible harm.
Six-year-old Keerthana suffered from this rare and challenging disease when she presented her case to the esteemed team of doctors at the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute. Dr. Pravin Vaddavalli examined Keerthana and recognized that her case had to be dealt with sensitively and carefully. Even a slight tap of a finger could cause Keerthana’s cornea to break.
Dr. Pravin found Keerthana’s case quite challenging since she had already lost one eye and her second eye was vulnerable to the same condition. Keerthana also suffered from Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, which causes cardiac and joint-related problems. After assessing Keerthana’s case, the team of doctors decided to perform a surgery called Epikeratoplasty, wherein they put a new cornea on top of her existing cornea.
The surgery – which was done to strengthen her cornea – lasted for four hours. The surgery was a success and Keerthana started recovering from her condition swiftly. Two years after her surgery, Keerthana can see almost as well as anybody else. She can read letters and walk around without her spectacles, bringing normality back to her young life.
Keerthana’s surgery was done for free by the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute, which was a big relief to her family. Her mother feels especially thankful towards the team of doctors at the institute, who were able to cure Keerthana’s condition successfully.