Dar Al Shifa Hospital, a leader in private healthcare in Kuwait, has introduced a new machine that aims to cure corneal-related diseases in five minutes.
This initiative is part of the hospital’s strategy to introduce leading technology that improves its patients’ overall healthcare, a statement from the healthcare provider said.

The new machine aims at providing efficient corneal collagen cross linking treatment, which increases the formation of collagen covalent bonds by photosensitised oxidation, and leads to a biomechanical stabilisation of the cornea.

It also strengthens patients’ cornea after they have completed Lasik operations. Corneal collagen cross linking is also used to stop the progression of keratoconus and may reduce the need for penetrating keratoplasty.

Dr Mohamed Wagih El Deeb, head of Ophthalmology department, Dar Al Shifa Hospitals, said: “It is crucial to understand the various elements that can contribute to corneal diseases, and most importantly, the different methods used to treat such diseases.”

The latest technology strengthens structurally weakened cornea. Keratoconus, which usually affects 1:3000 patients, is a degenerative disorder of the eye in which there is structural collagen changes within the cornea affecting its biomechanical force with subsequent thinning and increase of the curvature to become more conical than its normal gradual curve.

 The exact cause of this is uncertain, but many theories postulate that it could be associated with chronic seasonal allergy (Spring Cattarh) because of chronic eye rubbing. It is also associated with either local or systemic diseases like Ectopia Lentis, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Marfan syndrome, and Down’s syndrome, the statement said.

It is recommended that patients would start their treatment at an early stage in order to avoid more complications that may lead to more deterioration of the condition that might end with corneal transplant.

Established in 1961, Dar Al Shifa Hospital, and has developed to become one of Kuwait’s leading private healthcare providers. The hospital includes a wide range of departments that covers all specialties, it said. – TradeArabia News Service