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Titre: Media Room
CHUM first: Patients regain sight thanks to new procedure Version imprimable Suggérer par courriel
12 décembre 2008

Doctors from the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal perform Boston keratoprosthesis implant

Canadians with vision loss are regaining their sight, thanks to doctors from the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). The surgeons have implanted the Boston keratoprosthesis, an ocular prosthesis that serves as a substitute for the cornea, in patients with severe corneal vision loss.

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The implants have enabled patients affected by the second leading cause of blindness in the world to recover their sight in a matter of hours. Dr. Mona Harissi-Dagher, a professor with the Department of Ophthalmology at the Université de Montréal and a CHUM ophthalmologist, performed the procedure.

“The Boston keratoprosthesis intervention is now a possible alternative at the CHUM for patients suffering from genetic corneal blindness or vision loss as a result of trauma or disease for whom a corneal transplant is not an option,” says Dr. Dagher. “The operation lasts from 90 minutes to two hours and recovery time is relatively quick compared to traditional corneal transplants."

Health Canada approved the transplant of this particular type of prosthesis and the first surgeries were conducted last fall. “For the surgery to work, the retina and the other eye structures must be functional,” explains Dr. Dagher. “Once all the conditions are present and we have found a donor, we implant the keratoprosthesis in the patient.”

Says Dr. Salim Lahoud, head CHUM’s ophthalmology department: “We are proud of Dr. Dagher’s state-of-the-art expertise and the ability to offer this service to our patients. This new procedure shows how our team of 27 experienced specialists strive to stay at the cutting edge of new medical practices and technologies.”

For the Boston keratoprosthesis to be made possible, organ donation remains vital since the procedure requires a cornea attachment in the eye. “Since waiting times for this type of transplant can be three to four years, the number of surgeries we can perform is limited. Organ donation is crucial so that we may help as many patients as possible,” stresses Dr. Lahoud.

Partners in research:
The CHUM ophthalmology department thanks the Caroline-Durand Foundation for its $200,000 contribution towards this medical breakthrough and for providing years of support towards advances in research.

On the Web:
About the Université de Montréal
About the Department of ophthalmology of the Université de Montréal
About the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

Source:
Communication Department, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal

 

© 2008 - Bureau des communications et des relations publiques