Laser technology may soon be used for corneal transplants

SINGAPORE: In what could be a medical breakthrough in Singapore, corneal transplants may soon be carried out using laser technology instead of by hand.

You've probably heard of Lasik surgery to correct short-sightedness. That same technology could be used to perform corneal transplants.

Clinical trials are underway and the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) hopes to offer it to patients within a year.

Professor Donald Tan, director of Singapore National Eye Centre, said: "Being able to use the laser to do most of the surgery means far greater precision, accuracy and that will immediately translate into much better vision, much better results and also of course, the surgery will be much easier."

SNEC is collaborating with a team in Italy and it hopes that some 80% to 90% of corneal transplants can eventually be performed with laser.

source: ChannelNewsAsia