Belagavi doctors begin robotic surgeries for eye operations

Doctors at the M.M. Joshi Kodkany Super Speciality Eye centre hospital have begun robotic surgeries to treat different conditions and diseases.

“This is the first time such diverse robotic surgeries are being done at this scale. A team led by Shilpa Kodkany, eye surgeon, is conducting these procedures. Several successful procedures have already been done and the patients have recovered. These surgeries are bladeless and bloodless and cost effective. The operations are precise and done faster and the rate of recovery is higher. These are more effective than most earlier methods of treatment,” Srinivas Joshi, director of M.M. Joshi Kodkany Eye centre, said on Thursday.

“Various types of procedures, including Robotic Cataract Surgery with Femto Second Laser, CLEAR (Corneal Lenticule Extraction for Advanced Refractive Correction) surgery that help patients stop using spectacles, and treatment of corneal conditions were being conducted,” he said.

Dr. Joshi said they were more precise, safe and effective than traditional surgeries.

“The Belagavi unit is using Z8 Zymer machine that uses lasers to operate and stitch. There is minimal human intervention. This can be mounted on a vehicle and taken to hospitals in different towns. This was earlier available only in the metros. We have introduced it to Belagavi. It will go around small towns with trained doctors. It will offer services at discounted prices,” Dr. Joshi said.

He said the two hospitals had signed an agreement with a motto to encourage people to remove their glasses through laser surgeries. “People of all ages can use this, though it is best suited for those under 45 and above 55,” he said.

Dr. Kodkany, director of the centre, said that the new equipments were AI enabled and the margin of error were near zero. To a query, she said that there was a rising trend of eye ailments and problems among young children due to the excessive use of mobile phones. “The hospital offered various therapies to such children including counselling,” she said.

Other directors, including Rajendra Belgaumkar, was present.