Released on: October 15, 2007, 1:33 am

Press Release Author: Shroff Eye Hospital, Mumbai - India

Industry:

Press Release Summary: Mumbai, India : Keratoconus (cone shaped cornea) is not an
uncommon eye condition in India. India extrapolated statistics reveal that over 5
lakh people suffer from this disease. The incidence of keratoconus in families
varies in literature from 5% to 20%. Shroff Eye Hospital alone has seen over 50 such
patients in the past 2 years. A hint of keratoconus is frequently changing spectacle
numbers. Some patients also have a high degree of cylindrical powers.

Press Release Body: Mumbai, India : Keratoconus (cone shaped cornea) is not an
uncommon eye condition in India. India extrapolated statistics reveal that over 5
lakh people suffer from this disease. The incidence of keratoconus in families
varies in literature from 5% to 20%. Shroff Eye Hospital alone has seen over 50 such
patients in the past 2 years. A hint of keratoconus is frequently changing spectacle
numbers. Some patients also have a high degree of cylindrical powers.

The cornea is the clear window on the front of the eye. It is normally a regular
spherical dome in shape, becoming cone shaped in keratoconus. A new revolutionary
treatment called Corneal Collagen Cross Linking (C3R® ) is now available for
treating keratoconus permanently at Shroff Eye Hospital, India's first JCI (USA)
accredited eye hospital which has been serving patients with excellence over 88
years. This treatment is a simple, non surgical, non invasive treatment of one hour
using the UV-X system halting the progress of this condition and increasing corneal
strength by 300%. The treatment is based on 2 steps:

1. Application of riboflavin eye drops (Vitamin B 2) (a photosensitizing agent)
2. Exposure to Ultraviolet A (UVA, 365nm) light

So far there was no permanent treatment to stop or treat the progression of
keratoconus. Methods using rigid contact lens or other modalities, correct only the
refractive error (spectacle numbers), but have nominal effect on the progression of
keratoconus.

Dr. Anand Shroff, Chief Corneal and Refractive Eye Surgeon, Shroff Eye Hospital,
Mumbai says,"With the launch of the C3R® treatment, people in India will have
access to technology and treatments available at select centers in the world. C3R®
is very safe and a permanent solution to Keratoconus. Further it is a simple, single
sitting treatment requiring no major precautions, Most of the patients we have
diagnosed had no indication that they were suffering from keratoconus. They visited
the hospital to correct their spectacle numbers permanently with our advanced laser
treatment (LASIK) as they were fed up of frequently changing their spectacles or
were having difficulty with contact lenses. Such patients should never get treated
with LASIK. Hence, the

diagnosis of this condition before considering LASIK is a must and forms one of its
major eligibility criteria".

The majority of patients develop the disease after adolescence, between 12 and 20
years of age. The diagnosis in early disease can be tricky therefore important.
However a more definitive diagnosis can be obtained using corneal topography. At
Shroff Eye hospital, a simple test with the Wavelight Topolyser, very sensitive
diagnostic equipment, amongst other checks can detect this condition accurately.


About Shroff Eye:

SHROFF EYE Hospital established since 1919, is the first eye hospital in India to
accomplish the JCI- Joint Commission International accreditation. JCI is the Gold
standard in stringent clinical quality standards, an international arm of the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which evaluates quality
standards of US hospitals. Today Dr. Ashok C. Shroff, Padma Shree in 1990 & his two
sons Dr Rahul & Dr Anand Shroff are dedicated in maintaining the rich heritage of
providing quality, cost-efficient healthcare to local, national, and international
patients towards modern ophthalmology.


Open your eyes..to a whole new world

Web Site: http://www.lasikindia.in

Contact Details: Shroff Eye Hospital
222 S V Road
Bandra (W)
Mumbai 400050
Phone: +91 22 66921000, 26431006, 26430940

Shroff Eye Clinic
Gobind Mahal
86-B Netaji Subhash Road
Marine Drive
Mumbai 400002
Phone: +91 22 22814077, 22811863
Email: shroffeye@vsnl.com
www.shroffeye.org